Blue Devils Dump Top-Ranked Maryland, 9-8

March 1, 2002

The Duke University women's lacrosse team overcame a 6-3 second half deficit to snap Maryland's 43-game unbeaten streak. Junior Lauren Gallagher (West Chester, Pa.) tallied three goals, including the game-winner with 1:49 remaining as the Blue Devils improved to 2-0 on the year and 1-0 in the ACC.

Gallagher spotted the Blue Devils to a 1-0 lead with her fourth goal of the season four minutes into the contest. Maryland standout Courtney Hobbs knotted the score at 1-1 at the 21:26 mark and assisted on a Kelly Coppedge goal less than four minutes later to give the Terrapins a 2-1 advantage.

Jessica Bennett (Gladstone, N.J.) created a 2-2 tie with the first of her three goals at the 15:55 mark. Maryland's Kristie Leggio put the Terps ahead 3-2 with 12:45 remaining in the half, but Colleen McHenry (Reistertown, Md.) found the back of the net for Duke at 7:40, creating the third tie of the half.

The Terrapins, six-time defending national champions, exploded for three goals in the final 4:03 to take a 6-3 halftime lead.

The Blue Devils closed to within two goals when Bennett beat the Terrapin goalie with 24:59 left in the contest, but Coppedge responded for Maryland with the second of her three goals, leaving the score at 7-4.

Gallagher again led the Duke comeback, finding the back of the net on a free position shot with 16:20 to go in the half. Freshman Katie Laschinger (Luthersville, Md.) helped the Blue Devils close to within 7-6 when she found Meg Barnet (Adelaide, S. Australia) in front of the net for the goal.

Senior Kelly Dirks (Annapolis, Md.) tied the contest at the 6:57 mark, but Coppedge completed her hat-trick just over two minutes later to give Maryland an 8-7 advantage. A foul on Maryland goalie Alexis Venechanos gave Duke a free position shot with an open goal. Bennett capitalized with her third goal of the game with 3:58 remaining.

Gallagher completed the comeback with 1:49 remaining when she beat Venechanos on a free position shot. The junior Tewaaraton Player of the Year candidate bounced it past the Maryland goalie to give Duke a 9-8 lead. The Terrapins had one opportunity to tie the game, but a would-be goal was waved off because of a dangerous follow-through with only nine seconds remaining.

"I think this is a special team. They work hard and really support each other," said head coach Kerstin Kimel. "With all the adversity we have faced this season, this win is proof that we are doing the right things."

Duke improved to 2-7 all-time versus the Terrapins. The Blue Devils only other win versus Maryland came in 1998 when they upset the top-ranked Terrapins, 10-6. Kimel has led the Blue Devils to an impressive 19-10 record against nationally-ranked opponents over the last three seasons, including a pair of wins over the top-ranked team in the country.

Duke returns to action on Sunday, March 3, when it hosts Johns Hopkins at 12:00 p.m. The Blue Jays, ranked 14th by Lacrosse Magazine, are 0-3 lifetime versus Duke.