Pair of hat tricks carry Duke to win

A dominant second-half performance lifted the sixth-ranked Duke women’s lacrosse team past No. 19 Vanderbilt Thursday in Nashville, Tenn.

Led by hat tricks from Katie Chrest and Kristen Waagbo, the Blue Devils (7-2) trounced the Commodores (2-4), outscoring them 8-1 in the final 30 minutes. Duke’s second-period effort doubled Vanderbilt’s scoring on the day and gave them the 13-4 victory.

Despite the lopsided outcome, the game was still close after the first period as Duke led 5-3. But a four-goal run by the Blue Devils early in the second extinguished any hopes of a Vanderbilt comeback.

Waagbo scored her second goal a minute into the second half and followed with her third 1:15 later. Chrest’s third goal of the match put Duke ahead 9-3 with 23:39 to play.

The Commodores then scored their only goal of the second half to bring the score to 9-4, but Duke closed the period with another four-goal streak.

Vanderbilt managed to keep the game close throughout the first period thanks to poor shooting by the Blue Devils and superior goalie play from Ashley Bastinelli, who saved 11-of-22 shots.