Most teams that are 6-2 don't find themselves at a crossroads.
However, that's where the lacrosse team found itself heading into Saturday's match versus No. 15 Harvard. The Blue Devils needed a win, and they got one.
"We had to have the win--no matter what," Duke lacrosse head coach Mike Pressler. "At this point in the year, every game is so crucial because there's few of them left. If we're going to make a drive into the NCAA tournament, this was a game we had to have. A win's a win, and I'll take it."
Duke (7-2) defeated the Crimson 13-11 in a contest that was close throughout.
The Blue Devils never led by more than three goals, but they were able to win by controlling the game's flow in the second half.
Duke led 7-6 entering the second half. Less than two minutes into the third period, senior attackman Steve Finnell scored to push the lead to two, and shortly thereafter senior midfielder Ross Moscatelli beat Harvard's goalie from directly in front of the goal.
Behind that sudden push, the Blue Devils entered the final period leading 12-9. But the final period was as hard-fought as the rest of the game. Harvard took many of its 37 shots in the fourth period as Duke clung to its lead.
Harvard was only able to score twice in the pivotal final period as Blue Devil goalie Joe Kirmser made save after save. Kirmser was the difference against the Crimson, collecting 20 saves.
"One of my biggest problems up till now is that I've been worrying so much about the team and the field in general," Kirmser. "Today, I just concentrated on the ball, and I kept my head throughout the whole game. They did get some easy goals, but I was able to keep my head and not get too worked up about it."
"Today, Joe Kirmser established himself again as one of the premier goalies in the country," Pressler said. "He was outstanding today. I was very pleased with his game, and Joe really won the game for us."
Kirmser and the rest of the Blue Devils were not concerned with who got the credit for the victory following the game. The game itself was what concerned Duke.
"It was a big win," Kirmser said. "We needed to get back on track. It didn't matter how we did it, we just needed a win."
The game began with Duke jumping out to a quick 4-1 lead in the first period. But a nine-minute stretch, starting late in the first period and lasting into the second period, saw Harvard dominate possession of the ball and take the lead on the scoreboard. The Crimson went on top 5-4 with four straight goals.
"They scored three gifts in a row," Pressler said. "They got three lucky bounces. I thought we were the better team. But it seemed like Harvard was getting a lot of easy goals, while we were working extremely hard for ours."
The Blue Devils took the lead for good with 45 seconds left in the half. Up a man, Moscatelli scored to give Duke a 7-6 lead heading into halftime. For the game, Moscatelli finished with three goals. Two other Blue Devils also had hat tricks--senior attackman Scott Harrison and junior attackman James Heavey.
"We didn't play very well today," Pressler said. "We won this game more on guts and determination than on outstanding play."
That was evident in the hustle that Duke showed all game. It beat Harvard to ground balls consistently, finishing the game with a 62-18 advantage in that category.
"I wasn't worried at all about having to win this game," Kirmser said. "We've been tested before, and we've stepped up. We did that again today. It was simply a matter of pride."
Pride, determination, and guts were all noticeable in the win over the Crimson. Those factors will be needed down the stretch as the Blue Devils head into their final four regular season games.
"I think a lot of the guys on the team were personally stunned when we lost to North Carolina, and it took a lot out of us," Kirmser said. "We knew we had to bounce back, and we did. But this is no time to celebrate. We're playing UMass on Wednesday, and there's no rest time for that."
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