VERSAGE SETS ALL-TIME DEFENSIVE SAVES RECORD; RADFORD FALLS AT NO. 9 DUKE

BOX SCORE Follow @RadfordFH Tweet #RadfordFH

DURHAM, N.C. – Senior Alayna Versage became Radford field hockey's all-time leader in defensive saves, but the Highlanders (2-6) fell at No. 9 Duke, 6-0 on Sunday afternoon from Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium.

With two more defensive stops this afternoon, including the record breaker in the 67^th minute, Versage brought her career total to 17, surpassing former Highlander defensive standout, Natalie Bowen (2004-07).

It capped off a two-game stretch in which the Virginia Beach native scored the golden-goal on Friday against Davidson and recorded three defensive saves, including one in the 1-0 NorPac win over the Wildcats. She leads the team with six, one shy of last season's total of seven.

Juniors Jordan Vrhovac and Kellen Keys also recorded defensive saves as the Highlanders posted four more this afternoon. It brought their NCAA-leading total to 16 which matches the 2009 and 2012 squads for the second in a single season and is just two shy of the 1992 school-record mark of 18.

The ninth-ranked Blue Devils (6-2) jumped on the Highlanders with two goals in the first 7:17 and took a 4-0 lead into halftime. Duke added second half goals in the 47^th and 63^rd minute to cap off the scoring.

Senior keeper Sidney Encarnacion surrendered five goals and made seven saves in 52:17 of action, while sophomore Jillian Lates closed out the contest with two saves and one goal allowed.

Sophomore Marianna Parker and freshman Ava Mirzadegan each charted a shot.

Radford returns to action at home next Saturday, Sept. 28 for a NorPac contest against Appalachian State at 1:00 p.m.

Print Friendly Version