Overview
With the impressive results of the 2023 season, all eyes were on whether the Blue Devils could cement themselves as a top competitor in the ACC or if they would fall back into their previous struggles.
Head coach Pam Bustin’s squad reassured the field hockey world that its performance last season was no fluke. Duke (13-7, 6-2 in the ACC) collected five ranked wins during the regular season, including victories against then-No. 4 Maryland and then-No. 9 Boston College. The Blue Devils fell into a bit of a slump in September, losing three straight to ranked opponents. However, a shutout victory against then-No. 15 Syracuse sparked a historic run. With its victory against the Orange, Duke began on a seven-game shutout streak — a program record.
The Blue Devils’ exceptional defensive presence was central to their storyline this season. The team ended the regular season with 10 shutouts and opened up the NCAA Championship with a shutout victory against Maryland. Duke allowed just 15 goals over the course of the season, second in the ACC. The defense was anchored by graduate student goalie Frederique Wollaert. The All-American posted a goals-against average of .672, ranking third in the nation.
With a chance at a share of the regular-season ACC title in its regular-season finale, Duke suffered a 5-2 defeat against its rival down the road. As discussed in the season preview, the Blue Devils’ ability to break through and defeat top opponents like North Carolina and Northwestern was key to an improved season. With a second chance to overcome the Tar Heels in the quarterfinal of the NCAA Tournament, Duke was not able to capitalize on its offensive opportunities and fell 3-0.
Despite a sour ending, Bustin’s team has much to be proud of this season. Alaina McVeigh and Charlie van Oirschot earned All-American honors alongside Wollaert. McVeigh joined the 50 career points club this season, becoming the 43rd Blue Devil to do so. The junior ended the season with 13 goals and 28 points, ranking fifth in the ACC in both stats.
Overall, Duke played with a similar consistency to its 2023 season, posting impressive wins against strong opponents and finding offensive success from players like McVeigh and van Oirschot. A semifinal loss in the ACC Tournament and its NCAA Tournament exit against its biggest rival provides much energy for the Blue Devils looking forward to the 2025 season. -Sydney Olin
Best win: Nov. 15 vs. Maryland
While the 2024 season was not the Cinderella story of 2023, Duke still had impressive upset wins throughout the fall. One of the most substantial wins was against then-No. 5 Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The then-ninth-ranked Blue Devils defeated the Terrapins 1-0 in Chapel Hill — the lone goal was scored by senior Kira Curland in the third quarter. This match mirrored the two teams’ previous face-off Sept. 8 in the ACC-Big Cup, when then-No. 5 Duke won 1-0 over then-No. 4 Maryland. The tournament win was that much more sweet as the Blue Devils overcame the difficulties in facing the same team twice.
This win followed Duke’s disappointing loss to then-No. 8 Boston College in the second round of the ACC Tournament in a 2-0 shootout, shortly after beating the Eagles 1-0 in the regular season. The victory over the Terrapins brought hope for another impressive tournament run, but the momentum unfortunately ran out quickly as the Blue Devils lost their next match to their home-town rivals. - Mary Hill
MVP: Alaina McVeigh
Dominating the field yet again was McVeigh. She has had two back-to-back impressive seasons at forward after an injury her freshman year. In 2024, she led the team with 28 points from 13 goals and two assists, starting all 20 games. She took a personal record 83 shots, with a shot-on-goal percentage of 52%. She was named to the All-ACC first team and NFHCA All-South Region first team for the second year in a row, and she earned a spot as a Second-Team All-American. Within the conference, she had the fourth most shots and shots on goal, and the fifth most goals and overall points. As an impressive player with an eye for the goal, McVeigh will continue to play a vital role for Duke in her senior season. -Hill
Accolades
The Blue Devils finished the season with impressive accomplishments, racking up three NFHCA All-Americans: McVeigh and van Oirschot were named to the second team and Wollaert to the third. The three players were named to the NFHCA All-South Region first team and Curland was named to the region’s second team. Those four also received All-ACC honors, with McVeigh and van Oirschot making the first team and Wollaert and Curland the second. Duke tied for the second most conference selections behind North Carolina. Accomplishments weren’t just for the players, Bustin became the winningest coach in Blue Devil field hockey history with her 250th career win in a shutout against Old Dominion. This was one of the team’s 12 shutouts, a program record. -Hill
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