CHAPEL HILL - It isn't unusual for the field hockey team to lose to North Carolina.
But after the Blue Devils' 2-0 loss Saturday, UNC coach Karen Shelton said something you don't hear every day.
"Today they outplayed us," she said. "It's a very strong Duke team."
Duke also outplayed Richmond this weekend, beating the Spiders 4-0 at the East Campus Turf Field yesterday.
Against UNC at Navy Field, the Blue Devils (5-3) knew they were up against some history. The second-ranked Tar Heels, the defending national champions, had beaten Duke in 38 straight games-dating back to 1981.
The Blue Devils surprised the Tar Heels in penalty corners Saturday, forcing nine UNC defensive errors in their 16-yard circle. The Tar Heels (6-1) only had four corners, but the difference in the game came in the execution.
In the first half, the Tar Heels were able to convert two early penalty corners. When the Tar Hells were granted a corner just over four minutes into the game, third-team All-America Nancy Pelligreen hit a hard drive past Duke goalie Jenn Robb to put the Tar Heels up 1-0.
With 19:04 left in the half, national team member Jana Toepel was able to deflect the ball into the air toward the top of the cage on another penalty corner, finishing up the scoring for the day.
Despite having nine chances to score on penalty corners, the Blue Devils were unable to find the back of the goal.
"I saw us having so many chances," Duke coach Liz Tchou said. "We wanted to score so much that at times we weren't patient."
For the Blue Devils, especially those who have played against UNC in the past, it may have been the unfamiliar territory.
"We're not used to being up in UNC's end," said senior co-captain Mary Jo Reider. "I almost felt a little panicked. We pretty much dominated, which is unusual for us playing UNC."
Back at the East Campus Turf Field for yesterday's game against Richmond, Duke did not show many signs of exhaustion.
The Blue Devils outshot the Spiders 15-1 in the first half, getting on the board with an unassisted goal by Emily Ford with 13:49 minutes left in the half. Less than two minutes later, Corey Ceccolini sent the ball straight into the cage past Spider goalie Brooke Fuller on a penalty corner.
Fuller played goalie for Duke her freshman year but left the school before her sophomore season. This is her first season playing for Richmond.
For Robb, Duke's current goalie, it has been an odd role reversal. Robb and Fuller lived next door to each other freshman year, when Robb was playing backup goalie for the soccer team and Fuller was the starting field hockey goalie.
"Things work out in weird ways," Robb said. "We're still good friends and it was emotional having her here. It was definitely an emotional game."
In the second half, Duke showed off its new talent. Two freshmen, Robin Merritt and Melissa Yuppa, scored the first goals of their Duke careers. Merritt scored in the aftermath of a penalty corner and Yuppa slap-shot a ball, centered by Kim Susko, past Fuller.
"Robin's a really feisty player," Tchou said. "And Michelle always goes all-out. They're really improving and they love learning."
Duke next faces North Carolina on Wednesday night at 7:30 at the East Campus Turf Field. This time, the Blue Devils think they can come out on top.
"It's payback then-they're on our field," Robb said.
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