The Duke field hockey team traveled to Virginia this weekend to play Richmond on Saturday and the University of Virginia on Sunday.
Duke defeated Richmond 5-0 in the first game. Sophomore Melissa Panasci scored three goals for the Blue Devils. Those brought Panasci's total to 20 on the season--breaking a Duke single-season record for goals. Junior Jodie Taylor assisted on Duke's first two goals to Panasci and senior Tamara Gehris.
"We played fairly well," Blue Devil head coach Jacki Silar said. "We really just broke it open in the second half. I was satisfied with the level of play."
Duke led 2-0 at the half. In the second half, Panasci added two more goals and Gehris scored another. Senior Heather Moles and freshman Sarah Doherty combined in the goal to shut out the Spiders.
On Sunday, Duke lost to the No. 4 Cavaliers 1-0 in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup. Virginia's Meradith Thorpe scored the only goal in the first half, and the Blue Devils couldn't score the rest of the game.
Duke goalkeeper Moles equaled her second-best saves total of her career with 13 stops. Silar noted that she played incredibly well.
Duke, despite losing, statistically dominated UVa in the second half. The Blue Devils held the Cavaliers to no corners, while amassing seven themselves in the second half.
"We had lots of opportunities to score," Silar said. "We dominated the second half."
Duke sweeper Lynn Schoenherr was hurt early and missed most of the game. The injury forced several players to change positions and step up in her absence.
"Patience Harrison filled in at sweeper and did a really nice job," Silar said. "Samantha Schutte stepped up at right back, and Alison DeLeo played good defense."
Silar did seem pleased with the effort and the level of play.
"They're scrappy, young and showed a lot of effort," Silar said. "We're looking forward to playing them again at home."
This weekend's split moved Duke's overall record to 5-6, and it fell to 0-4 in the ACC.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.