UVA Rebounds from JMU Upset, Topples Duke
from staff reports
DURHAM, N.C. -- The third-ranked Duke women's
lacrosse team was unable to overcome a two-goal halftime deficit as
No. 5 Virginia escaped Durham with a narrow 8-7 victory over the
Blue Devils Saturday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium.
With the loss, Duke saw its five-game win streak snapped and the
Devils fell to 9-2 overall and 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast
Conference. Virginia was able to rebound after falling to No. 20
James Madison Wednesday and moves to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in the ACC
with the win.
Brittany Kalkstein led the Cavaliers with two goals and three
draw controls.
Three Blue Devils, Lindsay Gilbride, Sarah Bullard and Kim Wenger,
tallied two goals apiece in the match, while Christie Kaestner
dished out two assists and Kat Thomas chipped in a goal. Duke
outshot Virginia (20-16), collected more ground balls (18-16) and
had fewer turnovers (13-16) for the match, but the Cavaliers
controlled the draw 11-5 and only allowed one Duke draw control in
the second half.
UVa's Julie Gardiner struck first in the contest, netting a free
position shot less than four minutes in, but Wenger responded for
Duke off the ensuing draw to knot the score at one-all.
Virginia went up 3-1 off goals from Charlie Finnegan and Brittany
Kalkstein before Thomas found the back of the net with 14:50 to go
in the first half to pull Duke within one. Gilbride would tie the
score four minutes later, and the back-and-forth action continued
as the two teams traded goals over the next three minutes.
Tied at 4-4, the Cavaliers ended the half with two unanswered goals
to enter the intermission up 6-4.
Virginia extended its lead to 7-4 less than two minutes into the
second frame. Kaestner found Gilbride cutting along the right side
to narrow the margin back to two, however, UVa answered with
Kalkstein's second goal of the game.
Down by three with eight minutes left to play, Duke put together a
late run beginning with Wenger, who converted a free position
attempt for her second score of the game.
The Blue Devils regained possession after a failed UVa shot attempt
and wasted little time narrowing the Cavaliers' advantage to one
with Kaestner feeding Bullard for the goal.
Virginia again won the following draw, but Sara Giedgowd forced a
UVa turnover to give the Devils possession with 2:30 to play. Yet
Duke would be unable to get a shot off, turning the ball over and
ending the threat.
The Blue Devils play again next weekend, hosting No. 1 Northwestern
on Saturday, Apr. 3 and Davidson on Sunday, Apr. 4. Both game times
are scheduled for 12 p.m.
