Duke women’s lacrosse faced a tall order on Saturday — facing the defending champions on their turf.
Boston College led for nearly the entire game, expanding their lead with an aggressive offense and well-timed shots on goal en route to a dominant 19-10 victory. The Blue Devils, however, became the first team this season to score at least 10 goals against the Eagles, spearheaded by four players with two goals.
Duke kept the game under control during the first quarter. Despite being outmatched, sophomore Caitlin Barrett scored the game’s first goal, and Boston College remained ahead by only two goals at the quarter’s end.
The Eagles’ Rachel Clark tied the game a mere 34 seconds after Barrett’s goal with rapid passing and a screen dodge that stunned the Blue Devils’ defense. Patiently biding their time when in possession, Duke’s restraint limited the damage Boston College could have done with more time on offense.
After the initial breakthrough, it looked like the writing was on the wall. The Eagles dominated draw controls throughout the first and second quarters, with 10 draws to Duke’s four. Their attack and midfield showed no hesitation in passing, repeatedly penetrating the Blue Devils’ defense — whether man-to-man or zone — and pushing them around the field.
In contrast, Duke’s attackers struggled to find spaces to shoot, using the shot clock to bide their time with passes outside or near the 8-meter arc. Aggressive denial characterized the Boston College defense, forcing last-second shots and turnovers towards the end of the half. On defense, junior Kennedy Everson limited the damage with five saves.
By halftime, the Eagles led 9-3, with Clark and Emma LoPinto scoring a combined five goals. Meanwhile, sophomore Eva Pronti and graduate Callie Hem’s goals kept Duke in the game amid daunting pressure.
Initially, Boston College seemed to pick up where it left off in the third quarter, scoring another goal just 29 seconds in as the Blue Devils switched to a man-to-man defense.
An attempted comeback led by Hem and seniors Kerry Nease and Carly Bernstein narrowed the score to 10-6. Duke’s offense seemed suddenly reinvigorated, rapidly passing the ball down the field, sneaking their way close to the Eagles’ goal, constantly scanning for assists and fighting for the ball in midfield at every chance. Sophomore Eva Pronti observed Bernstein’s stealthy split between defenders with less than eight minutes to go, and her well-timed pass found its mark. Bernstein’s close range shot hit the net, putting the Blue Devils back in the game.
The visitor’s defense complemented its newfound shooting aggression, denying Boston College any goals for over 10 minutes of game time. Meanwhile, the home side’s attack struggled to find openings, resorting to peripheral passing with Everson’s reflexive saves and thick swarms of defenders nearby proving effective deterrents.
Boston College, however, rebounded ferociously with three consecutive goals in the quarter’s final minute. The stunned Blue Devils attempted to regain lost momentum as the last quarter commenced. The Eagles won the first draw as the final 15 minutes got underway, but Duke fought on. An underhand free-position shot from sophomore Bella Goodwin made its way past the goalie, and Pronti followed up with a forceful shot that slammed its way into the net.
With 11:30 left and the scoreboard at 13-8, Duke’s attackers continued to look for ways to penetrate the defense. Two minutes of uneasiness followed. Nease, sprinting a quarter circle around four defenders, headed straight for the goal and, with a near-perfectly angled shot, narrowed the deficit to four points.
The final 10 minutes were a different story. The Blue Devils looked to deny Boston College’s aggressive offense a chance to stop the bleeding, but two goals off a free shot and a quick draw restored their earlier consistency. A hockey-like shot found its way past numerous defenders to widen the lead to 16-9, and the team’s rapid running chipped away at their increasingly exasperated opponent. Penalties hampered Duke further, with nine cards issued to Boston College’s five.
With the Eagles firmly in the driver’s seat, the Blue Devils conceded another hard-fought loss on the road. Now 2-2, Duke will hope to change the narrative against Notre Dame at home on Friday.
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Samanyu Gangappa is a Trinity sophomore and local/national news editor for the news department.