Blue Devils Outlast Spiders In Home Opener, 10-7

Friday, February 23

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

Richmond

Blue Devils Hold Off Tigers To Improve To 5-1

Blue Devils Outlast Spiders In Home Opener, 10-7

2/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. -- The No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (3-0) held on in a close game on Friday night, defeating the No. 13 Richmond Spiders (2-1) by a score of 10-7. The game was tied with less than eight minutes left, but the Blue Devils were able to score three straight goals to put the game away.

Richmond sophomore attacker Mandy Friend would score three of the first five goals of the game to give Richmond 1-0 and 3-2 leads. All three goals came unassisted.

Duke then rattled off the next four goals before halftime, taking a 6-3 lead in the locker room. Senior attacker Kristen Waagbo had both of her goals and both of her assists before intermission. It was the first two goals of the season for Waagbo, who increased her team-high assists total to eight, and also had a team-high five ground balls. Junior attacker Caroline Cryer continued her scoring success of late, tallying one goal and one assist in the first half, and tacking on another assist in the second.

Senior midfielder and captain Rachel Sanford scored 25 seconds into the second half to put Duke up 7-3, but the Spiders would answer with four straight goals to tie the game, 7-7. Included in that stretch were two goals by Richmond senior attacker Morghan Vahue and two assists by Mandy Friend.

The second half would turn out to be the Sanford show, as she netted two more goals in the last two minutes to finish with three and help seal the deal for Duke. Freshman attacker Lindsay Gilbride contributed to the Blue Devil effort with two goals and four ground balls in the game.

Duke's defense was strong throughout the game on a cold night where offense was at a premium. Senior midfielder and captain Michelle Menser caused a crucial turnover by Friend late in the game when the issue was still in question. Junior defender Aiyana Newton and senior defender Meghan Ferguson led the defense that helped keep Duke in the game throughout.

Sanford, Waagbo and senior attacker Leigh Jester have racked up the preseason awards in the past week. All three were named to the Tewaaraton Award watch list, which is the award given to the most outstanding collegiate female lacrosse player each year. Sanford, Waagbo and Jester were also name to Inside Lacrosse's Division I preseason All-America list. Waagbo and Jester were first team preseason All-America selections while Sanford made the second team.

The Blue Devils will play their next game at home on Sunday at 12 p.m. against the William & Mary Tribe. That game is part of the first of two doubleheaders that the Duke women's and men's lacrosse teams will have at Koskinen this year.