Oct. 17, 2000

VILLANOVA, Pa.----- The visiting Duke Blue Devils (6-10, 0-3 ACC) defeated Villanova (8-6, 1-3 Big East), 5-3, in the Wildcats final home game of the 2000 field hockey season.

Senior Nicole DiMaggio (West Chester, Pa.), playing in her final home game of her career, put Villanova on the board 9:16 into the contest. DiMaggio deflected a centering pass from freshman Christina Lugones (Oceanport, N.J.).

The Blue Devils leading scorer, Courtney Sommer (Tulsa, Okla.) tied the game at 1-1 with 14:58 remaining in the first half when she gathered a pass from junior Angie North (Houston, Tx.) and found the back of the net.

Duke's offense exploded for four unanswered goals highlighted by a two-goal effort by junior Liz Bateman (Berwyn, Pa.). Less than one minute after Villanova took the lead on Lugones' first career goal, Bateman slapped a backhand past Wildcats goalkeeper Meghan Helwig (Basking Ridge, N.J.), knotting the score at 2-2.

Duke controlled play in the second half out-shooting the Wildcats 12-4. Bateman scored her second goal of the afternoon 6:21 into the half on a pass from North.

North once again factored in on a Duke goal as she connected with Stacey Tsougas (Virginia Beach, Va.) on what proved to be the game-winning goal.

Duke's Robin Merritt (Amherst, N.Y.) capped the Blue Devils scoring when she successfully converted a penalty stroke with 4:59 left to play.

Villanova junior Stephanie Vrettos (West Long Branch, N.J.), who has a team-high 14 goals, added a goal for the Wildcats, cutting Duke's lead to 5-3.

The Wildcats return to action on Saturday, Oct. 21, when they travel to Chestnut Hill, Mass., for a Big East field hockey showdown versus the No. 13 ranked Boston College Eagles.

Scoring Breakdown:Duke (6-10, 0-3 ACC)        2   3   --  5Villanova (8-5, 1-3 Big East)   2   1   --  3

First Half  VU  25:44   Nicole DiMaggio (Christina Lugones)        D   14:58   Courtney Sommer (Angie North)        VU  7:34    Lugones (Leah Lisausky)        D   6:35    Liz Bateman (una.)Second Half:    D   28:39   Bateman (North)        D   21:01   Stacey Tsougas (North)        D   4:59    Robin Merritt (penalty stroke)        VU  2:10    Stephanie Vrettos (Brooke Bergman.

Shots: D 21, VU 16Saves: D 10 (Hallie Smith - 70:00, 10 saves, 3 GA), VU 9 (Meghan Helwig - 70:00, 9 saves, 5 GA)Penalty Corners: D 9, VU 7NOTES:  Duke goalkeeper Hallie Smith saved a Villanova penalty stroke with 2:50 remaining in the first half.