Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Duke
No. 2 Blue Devils Roll Past Northwestern, 9-0
10/28/2005 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Duke 9, Northwestern 0
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Oct. 28, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 2 Duke scored four goals in the first half and added five in the second to roll by Northwestern's field hockey team Friday, 9-0. Freshman goalkeeper Emily Kyle (San Francisco, Calif./San Francisco University High School) recorded a career-high 10 saves in her second collegiate start.
The country's fifth-ranked offense wasted little time lighting up the scoreboard, as the Blue Devils scored their first goal at 2:37. Duke managed three more goals before the intermission, and went into the break with a 4-0 lead.
While the Blue Devils did score four in the first half, it could have been five if not for stellar defensive play by Amanda Care (Newtown, Pa./Pennsbury). In the 21st minute, Duke put a shot-on-goal as Kyle was temporarily out of the cage. Care came from out of nowhere and dove in front of the shot for her second defensive save of the season.
In the second half, Northwestern's offense experienced a bit more success than in the first stanza. The Wildcats tallied 13 second-half shots as opposed to six in the first half, and the 'Cats enjoyed a 6-4 second-half penalty corner advantage over Duke.
The damage was done, however, and Duke came away with the win. Northwestern ended the game with 19 total shots, including 14 shots-on-goal.
"I think we just took too long to get going," head coach Kelly McCollum said. "We took too much time trying to figure Duke out and see the level they play at. They're the most intense, attacking offense we've faced this season. Still, I feel Kyle and Christina Foley (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) played strong defensively from start to finish," McCollum said.
With the loss, Northwestern drops to 7-10 on the season. The Wildcats return to action at Noon Saturday, Oct. 29, against No. 1 Wake Forest.
"I think this game served its purpose. We played one of the best teams in the country and hopefully we've learned what we need to do to take our play to that next level," McCollum said.
