Duke Holds Off Cavaliers, 9-8, in ACC Quarterfinals

Thursday, April 28

Blacksburg, Va.

2:30 PM

Duke University

Virginia (Quarterfinals)

Duke Holds Off Cavaliers, 9-8, in ACC Quarterfinals

4/28/2016 5:55:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

WLAX vs. Virginia: Highlights WLAX vs. Virginia: Kerstin Kimel Postgame INT Photo Gallery Season Statistics Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The fourth-seeded Duke women's lacrosse team advanced to the ACC Tournament semifinals for the second consecutive season with a 9-8 win over fifth-seeded Virginia Thursday at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium. The Blue Devils improved to 10-7 on the season and move on to face top seed North Carolina in Friday's semifinals.

Fueled by solid defensive play, Duke built a 5-1 first-half lead but saw the Cavaliers (9-8) whittle the margin down to two by the intermission. In the second period, the Blue Devils answered after nearly every Virginia tally to earn the one-goal victory.

Senior Maddy Acton and sophomores Grace Fallon and Kyra Harney all finished with multiple goals and freshman Olivia Jenner registered five draw controls to help Duke take the category, 12-7. Senior goalkeeper Kelsey Duryea anchored the Blue Devils' defensive performance with seven saves.

“We did a few things differently defensively because I think some of their kids really stepped up in the last month since we played them [in the regular season],” said head coach Kerstin Kimel. “Our defense, by and large, played very well. We took away some of their inside looks, we limited some of their key people. Unfortunately we fouled to put them on the eight-meter, but nonetheless, I thought our defense and Kelsey Duryea did a good job of holding strong against them.”

The first 10 minutes featured back-and-forth play with turnovers plaguing both sides. Sophomore midfielder Maddie Crutchfield broke open the scoring at the 26:22 mark and Duryea chipped in a pair of early saves.

After the Cavaliers' Kelly Boyd capitalized on a Duke turnover on a clearing attempt, the Blue Devils began to take control at the draw, resulting in tallies by Acton and Harney. The attack duo continued the run with two more markers to lift Duke to a 5-1 advantage late in the period.

Virginia broke through for two goals inside the final four minutes of the half to bring the score to 5-3 at the break.

Coming out of halftime, a patient offensive possession set up Crutchfield to find Fallon unmarked in front of the cage. The teams then traded tallies, with Fallon putting away her second and senior Kelci Smesko finishing on a Jenner feed. The goal by Smesko made it an 8-5 contest midway through the period.

Kelly Reese and Posey Valis of the Cavaliers recorded back-to-back scores to narrow it to a one-goal game with 12:24 to play. Following a series of turnovers by both teams, Jenner found senior Emma Lazaroff to put the margin back at two.

Duke ran down the clock to the final minute but Virginia corralled a loose ball and saw Valis notch her fourth with 10 seconds remaining. However, Jenner took the final draw to close out the quarterfinal round win.

The Cavaliers finished with a 21-17 advantage in shots and won the ground ball battle, 16-11. Duke committed 16 turnovers and Virginia 15, with Crutchfield and defenders Claire Scarrone and Michelle Staggers recording two caused turnovers apiece for the Blue Devils.

North Carolina advanced to Friday's semifinal meeting with a 19-6 defeat of host Virginia Tech in the day's first contest. The Tar Heels and Duke will meet for the second-straight week, with the semifinal set for 5 p.m. on RSN and ESPN3.

--- NOTES –

- With five draw controls on the day, freshman Olivia Jenner brought her season total to 86. That is just three shy of matching Emma Hamm's single season program record of 89 draw controls.

- Duke improved to 11-18 all-time in the ACC Tournament and 5-2 in first-round action.

#GoDuke