Duke Explodes for 16-5 Win Over No. 5 Louisville

Saturday, March 12

Durham, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Louisville

Duke Explodes for 16-5 Win Over No. 5 Louisville

3/12/2016 4:12:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

WLAX vs. Louisville: Crutchfield Has Career-High Day WLAX vs. Louisville: Duryea Notches Double-Digit Saves WLAX vs. Louisville: Smesko Tallies Six Goals WLAX vs. Louisville: Smesko Interivew WLAX vs. Louisville: Harney Collects 5th Hat Trick WLAX vs. Louisville: Kimel Interview WLAX vs. Louisville: Duryea Interview WLAX vs. Louisville: Crutchfield Interview Full Game Replay: Duke 16, Louisville 5 Photo Gallery Season Statistics Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – The 15th-ranked Blue Devils outscored No. 5 Louisville 9-1 in the opening half to fuel a 16-5 victory over the Cardinals Saturday at Koskinen Stadium. Sophomore midfielder Maddie Crutchfield set a program record with six assists and senior goalkeeper Kelsey Duryea anchored a strong defensive performance as Duke handed Louisville (7-1, 2-1 ACC) its first loss of the season.

The Blue Devils improved to 5-4 overall and 2-0 in conference action while bouncing back from a midweek loss to Georgetown in impressive fashion.

Crutchfield totaled a career-high nine points and four draw controls on the afternoon and was joined in collecting a hat trick by senior Kelci Smesko and sophomore Kyra Harney. Smesko tallied a game-high six goals and Harney chipped in four goals and two assists. For the contest, Duke recorded assists on 11 of the 16 scores.

Duryea and the Blue Devil defense limited the Cardinals to their lowest scoring output of the season. The unit also held Louisville's three leading scorers – Kaylin Morissette, Cortnee Daley and Hannah Koloski – to just one combined goal.

“I'm really proud of our kids,” said head coach Kerstin Kimel. “That's a tough turnaround, just in terms of the mental and emotional part of having to get right back on the saddle and start preparing for a tough opponent like Louisville … Each time we've bounced back, I think we've bounced back better in terms of how we're performing and how we're executing on the field. So long as we continue to make steps forward from here on out, I think it's great.”

After falling behind early against the Hoyas Wednesday, Duke got out to a quick start behind a pair of unassisted tallies by Crutchfield and Smesko. Julia Wood of the Cardinals responded at the eight-meter mark before the Blue Devils took off on a 7-0 run through the end of the period. Duryea made five saves in that span while Crutchfield and senior Maddy Acton both found the back of the net twice to give the squad an eight-goal advantage at the intermission.

Duke carried its momentum into the second half, as Harney tacked on two more for her team-leading fifth hat trick of the season. Louisville broke through for the first time since the 20:50 mark in the first when Kelli Gerding snapped the 27-minute scoreless streak with a pair of markers. That cut the margin to eight, but the Cardinals would get no closer for the remainder of the contest.

Crutchfield found an open Smesko on the crease on back-to-back possessions, putting the score at 13-3. The Blue Devils surrendered a pair of free position goals inside the final 14 minutes but received two tallies by Harney and one from Smesko to seal the double-digit victory.

“We just came into this game looking to play gritty, heart and hustle all over the field,” Duryea said. “We had talked about playing a full 60-plus minute game and then also just from the defensive end to the attacking end. There's been some games where attacking end is having a great game and D is not having their best or vice versa. And for us to play, from end line to end line, a complete game was really important."

Duryea finished with 13 saves for her third double-digit save outing of the spring, and added six ground balls to help Duke win the category, 17-11. The Blue Devils also led in shots, 24-20, while Louisville held a 15-7 advantage at the draw behind 12 draw controls by Morissette.

Brittany Read notched five saves in the net for the Cardinals in the loss.

Up next, Duke heads north for a two-game road swing, traveling to Columbia Wednesday and Villanova next Saturday.

#GoDuke