Strong First Half Pushes Duke Past Buckeyes, 15-6

Thursday, April 9

Durham, N.C.

2:30 PM

Duke University

Ohio State

Women?s Lacrosse Hosts Exhibition Action Saturday

Strong First Half Pushes Duke Past Buckeyes, 15-6

4/9/2015 5:50:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Duryea and the defensive unit limited 18th-ranked Ohio State to just one first-half goal to guide third-ranked Duke to a 15-6 victory over the Buckeyes Thursday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils collected their sixth win over a ranked opponent and improved to 13-1 on the spring to match the program's best start to a season since 2006.

Seniors Katie Trees and Brigid Smith both posted hat tricks with Trees also adding a career-high three assists in the non-conference matchup. Four other Blue Devils recorded two goals each and Duke's senior class accounted for 11 of the 15 scores on the day while Cian Dabrowski led Ohio State's attack with three tallies.

Duke's seniors got the home team on the board early, as Kerrin Maurer and Trees both converted from the eight-meter and Taylor Trimble finished on a feed from Smith inside the first minute and a half of play. Jennifer Porretto of the Buckeyes responded with a free position goal but the Blue Devil defense would go on to hold Ohio State scoreless for the remainder of the period and six minutes into the second half. Duke broke off on a 7-0 run during that stretch, with junior midfielder Maddy Acton and Smith finding the back of the net twice and freshman Kyra Harney, Maurer and Trees also contributing tallies.

With the attack firing on all cylinders, the Blue Devils led 8-1 at the half. Duke outshot the Buckeyes 17-8 in the first 30 minutes and held a 7-3 advantage at the draw.

Dabrowski ended Ohio State's 32-minute scoring drought with a free position goal at the 23:34 mark in the second half. The teams then traded markers over the next 10 minutes, although Duryea and Ohio State goalkeeper Tori DeScenza both came up with stops in that span and the Buckeyes' Olivia DiCarlantonio helped swing draw controls to the visiting squad's favor with six in the second half.

The Blue Devils earned their largest lead of the game at 15-4 following three-straight scores from Smith, senior Chelsea Landon and Trees. Dabrowski notched two of her three goals inside the final three minutes of regulation, but it was not enough to overcome Duke's early lead.

For the game, the Blue Devils held a 33-19 advantage in shots and placed 76 percent of their looks on goal. Duke also picked up 20 ground balls to 12 by Ohio State, though the Buckeyes had the edge in draw controls, 13-10, after winning 10 in the second half.

DeScenza finished with 10 saves for Ohio State while Duryea, who was added to the 2015 Tewaaraton Award Watch List earlier Thursday, registered eight saves to go along with one ground ball and one caused turnover. Defenders Claire Scarrone and Gabby Moise joined Trimble in logging two caused turnovers apiece.

The Blue Devils wrap up their regular season ACC schedule Friday, April 17 in a 7 p.m. contest against North Carolina. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 from Koskinen Stadium.

--- NOTES ----

- Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Duryea was added to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List Thursday. She joins teammates Kerrin Maurer and Taylor Trimble on the list for the annual award, which honors the top male and female college lacrosse players in the United States.

- Trimble moved into a tie for ninth place all-time at Duke in career draw controls with 113 over her four seasons. She is tied with former teammate Kim Wenger (2009-12).

- Duke improved to 6-1 on the season against ranked opponents. The squad also extended its home win streak to seven consecutive games.

#GoDuke