DURHAM, N.C. — A furious fourth quarter surge was not enough as the Stanford field hockey team fell in its first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) bout of 2025, dropping a tough contest to No. 7 Duke at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium on Friday night, 2-0.
“I think we did a great job tonight defensively which was a main focus after the Michigan game,” said Susan Ewing York Director of Women’s Field Hockey head coach Roz Ellis. “We are a tough team to break through and Duke is a great side that capitalized when they broke through.”
In what was a steamy afternoon in The Tarheel State, the Cardinal did well to dispel the slight pressure from the hosts in the early going. However, a penalty corner late in the first quarter brought about the game-opening goal as the Blue Devils struck through against the run of play to nab a 1-0 lead.
Stanford, though, bounced back in the second quarter rifling the lone two shots of the frame to try and even the scoreline heading into the break. Though the Cardinal had its chances, Duke held on, earning one save in the process, as the Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
The tides turned in the third quarter for the Cardinal as Stanford had a massive opportunity to level the scoreline after a penalty stroke was awarded for a foul in the circle. However, the ensuing shot just missed the far post as the scoreline remained 1-0 in favor of the hosts. Just under two minutes later, Duke doubled its advantage to take a 2-0 lead into the final quarter.
“We definitely need to be more clinical in our chances,” said Ellis. “ We have to take our opportunities and bury them but we definitely feel that we have more opportunities to capitalize on our chances and win more games.”
Unwavering in its goal to draw level, Stanford came out hot in the fourth quarter, hemming Duke from the beginning push back. The Cardinal, which sent wave after wave of pressure, outshot the Blue Devils 5-0 in the frame while forcing Duke into one save. With the Cardinal pressing - courtesy of multiple penalty corners - Stanford had its opportunities to draw into the lead but Duke mitigated the pressure, eventually leaving with the 2-0 win.
The Cardinal is back in action this Sunday, completing its two-game road trip with a bout contest against No. 2 North Carolina. Opening push back from Chapel Hill, N.C. is slated for 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.