Late Rally Falls Short in 10-9 Loss to Georgetown

Wednesday, March 9

Durham, N.C.

3:00 PM

Duke University

Georgetown

Late Rally Falls Short in 10-9 Loss to Georgetown

3/9/2016 6:06:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

WLAX vs. Georgetown: Duryea Tops 500 Career Saves WLAX vs. Georgetown: Harney Secures Hat Trick Full Game Replay: Georgetown 10, Duke 9 Photo Gallery Season Statistics Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Trailing by five midway through the second half, 15th-ranked Duke put together a late rally but fell just short in a 10-9 loss to Georgetown Wednesday at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils tallied the game's final four goals but ran out of time, slipping to 4-4 on the season.

The Hoyas (1-4) featured four players with multiple goals on the day to collect their first win of the season.

Sophomore attacker Kyra Harney led Duke's offensive effort with her fourth hat trick of the season, while seniors Kelci Smesko and Maddy Acton contributed two tallies each.

Despite winning each of the first five draws, the Blue Devils were unable to slow Georgetown in the opening half, as the Hoyas jumped out to a 5-0 advantage. Georgia Tunney scored twice during the squad's early run, and Duke struggled to answer until Harney provided a fast break goal at the 8:13 mark. However, the Hoyas countered within seconds off a win at the draw to make it 6-1.

The Blue Devils trimmed the deficit to three at halftime following markers by Acton and freshman Olivia Jenner.

Coming out of the break, Georgetown took the opening draw and scored to push the lead to 7-3. The teams traded goals before Duke's attack used momentum from a Kelsey Duryea save to get back within three.

Two straight tallies by the Hoyas put the deficit back at five with 16:45 remaining. Harney was able to get to the eight-meter mark a short while later, notching her second goal, but neither side would find the back of the net again for over nine minutes. Georgetown goalkeeper Megan McDonald posted three saves in that span and Duryea two to keep the score at 10-6.

Acton found an opening with just under four minutes to play, sparking a late Duke rally. Junior Maura Schwitter corralled the ensuing draw control and Smesko capitalized to pull the Blue Devils within two. After the Hoyas won the next draw, time ran down as the teams both committed turnovers. Smesko then found Harney in transition to make it a one-goal game with 25 seconds to go.

Georgetown's Kristen Bandos collected the final draw and the Hoyas ran out the clock for the one-goal victory.

Duryea finished with seven stops in the net and during the course of the contest became just the third goalkeeper in Duke history to surpass 500 saves for her career.

McDonald and Maddy Fisher split time in the cage for the Hoyas, combining for nine saves.

For the contest, the Blue Devils led in shots 24-20 and held a 12-9 advantage at the draw. Ground balls were in Georgetown's favor at 16-12, while each team committed 10 turnovers.

Duke remains at home through the weekend, welcoming No. 5 Louisville to Koskinen Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m. The top-15 ACC matchup will be streamed on Blue Devil Network Plus.

#GoDuke