Blue Devils Fall in Tight Battle with No. 4 Syracuse, 10-9
DURHAM, N.C. – The 17th-ranked Duke women’s lacrosse team battled No. 4 Syracuse down to the wire but ultimately came up short, falling in a 10-9 decision Saturday evening at Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium.
The contest was a back-and-forth affair featuring four ties and four lead changes across the 60 minutes. Duke had two good looks at an equalizer in the final minute but were unable to push one across the goal line.
Redshirt junior Ava Biancardi, sophomore Avery Doran and junior Bella Goodwin combined for seven of Duke’s nine goals on the day, with Biancardi recording her eighth hat trick of the season while Doran and Goodwin netted braces. Redshirt junior Eva Pronti dished out a team-best five assists to post her sixth consecutive multi-assist effort, while junior Ellie White tallied eight draw controls.
Graduate student Mackenzie Olsen led the defensive efforts with two caused turnovers and two ground balls, with redshirt freshman Hope Schoudel collecting seven saves in goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Doran opened the scoring with a man-up goal just over a minute into the game. Syracuse responded with the next two tallies and held a one-goal edge after the opening 15 minutes.
- Duke and Syracuse went blow for blow in the second period with each team finding the back of the net three times. The Blue Devil goals came via Biancardi (2) and freshman Quinn Whitaker, with Goodwin and Pronti (2) providing the assists.
- The Blue Devils reclaimed the lead early in the second half with two goals in the first three minutes. Doran found Biancardi for a score just 50 seconds in, then Pronti connected with Goodwin for a strike shortly after to put Duke ahead, 6-5, with 12 minutes to play.
- After being held scoreless for nearly 10 minutes of the quarter, the visitors closed the third with a 3-0 spurt to take an 8-6 lead into the fourth. Syracuse added another score early in the fourth to extend its lead to three at the 11:42 mark.
- Duke was able to turn momentum back into its favor, as a yellow card by the Orange just past the midway point set up a two-minute man-up advantage for the home team.
- The Blue Devils took full advantage of this opportunity, slotting home three consecutive goals to level the score at 9-9 with 5:20 remaining.
- Pronti connected with Goodwin again to kickstart the run, then Doran and sophomore Sadie Stafford found the back of the net – the latter goal assisted by Pronti.
- Syracuse regained the lead late in the period, as Emma Muchnick’s tally at the 2:18 mark put the visitors ahead, 10-9.
- The Blue Devils went back on the attack as they looked to find the equalizer. Duke had two good looks at the goal in the final minute, but Doran’s attempt was saved by the Syracuse keeper and Biancardi’s shot in the final seconds hit the post.
NOTES:
- Duke falls to 9-5 overall and 5-3 in ACC play. Syracuse improves to 11-3 on the year and 6-2 in league action.
- Syracuse extends its lead in the all-time series to 10-2 overall and 5-1 in Durham.
- Ava Biancardi recorded her eighth hat trick of the season and fifth in the last seven games. She has tallied 10 straight multi-goal efforts and owns 12 total on the year.
- With her five assists, Eva Pronti surpassed 100 career helpers as a Blue Devil. She owns nine games this season with three or more assists, including each of the last six contests.
UP NEXT:
Duke continues its gauntlet to close the season with the second of three consecutive games against ranked opponents. The Blue Devils hit the road Apr. 11 for an ACC tilt at No. 11 Clemson. Opening draw is set for noon and the game will be streamed live on ACCNX.
