Upcoming Event: Women's Lacrosse versus Louisville on March 14, 2026 at 12 PM
Women's Lacrosse
vs Louisville
DWLax Flashback: Duke Topped VT, 11-10, in OT Thriller
3/28/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
The 2019-20 Duke women's lacrosse team was set to take the field against No. 24 Virginia Tech on Saturday, March 27 before the season cancellation, so let's look back at last season's overtime win over the Hokies. Check out the original GoDuke.com release here.
Last season's top-25 matchup against ACC foe Virginia Tech came down to the wire in a dreadfully cold and wet game. Due to the weather, the game was moved to Cohan Fields for its artificial turf rather than Duke's typical natural grass at Koskinen Stadium. The conditions created obstacles for both teams, resulting in 37 combined turnovers.
The Blue Devils found themselves trailing 9-6 with 10 minutes to play after the Hokies scored four in-a-row. Duke responded, outscoring the visitors, 3-1, two coming from Olivia Jenner, over the next 5:30 to pull within a score.
What seemed as though it could be Duke's last chance to tie, Jenner drew a foul with 1:33 remaining. She stepped up for an eight-meter shot but was saved by the Hokies' goalie. Virginia Tech called a timeout with 40 seconds remaining, looking to keep possession and leave Durham with a 10-9 win in both teams' ACC opener.
Katie Cronin had other ideas. The then-sophomore saw an opportunity to create a turnover at the 20 second mark before taking it straight to the cage, putting it past the Virginia Tech goalie to tie with nine seconds remaining.
"I was marked up on the ball and was given one job: to chase the ball down and try to get it back," Cronin said. "I got a great opportunity for a back check and was able to take advantage of it, get the ball and eventually score. Once I had the ball, it was pure adrenaline to take the ball down to score as I knew the time was very limited."
Jenner won the ensuing draw to force overtime.
Duke head coach Kerstin Kimel drew up a play to give Duke a chance, but the Blue Devils needed the ball on the opening draw. After the ball slid around the wet turf for a bit, Cronin gathered it and began the push to the Hokies' goal.
"In over time we had a play drawn up but we knew that was only possible if we got the ball," Cronin continued. "Our draw team had been great and I was able to get the ground ball and safely get it to the attacking end."
"I remember coming off the sideline at the end of the second half to go in for overtime and being told by the coaches that I would be the feeder in our OT play," then-junior Catherine Cordrey said. "I couldn't even feel my hands at that point because the weather was so cold and all my layers were soaked through from the rain. Teammates were rubbing my hands in our huddle to warm them up before we went in."
Cronin got the ball into the attacking third and gave it to Cordrey. She created space and found a cutting Ellie Majure who buried the ball in the cage to give the Blue Devils the 11-10 win.
"In the last few minutes of regulation and OT our team showed this tremendous amount of grit and resilience," Cordrey said. "Cronin won the draw and I said to myself 'this is it, we are going to score.' I had a feeling that Ellie would be the open cutter and trusted her to finish. It was an unreal win and feeling when she scored. The game is definitely one of my highlights from my four years on the team."
The team rushed Majure following the goal and enjoyed a celebration that made you forget about the dreadful weather.
#GoDuke
Last season's top-25 matchup against ACC foe Virginia Tech came down to the wire in a dreadfully cold and wet game. Due to the weather, the game was moved to Cohan Fields for its artificial turf rather than Duke's typical natural grass at Koskinen Stadium. The conditions created obstacles for both teams, resulting in 37 combined turnovers.
The Blue Devils found themselves trailing 9-6 with 10 minutes to play after the Hokies scored four in-a-row. Duke responded, outscoring the visitors, 3-1, two coming from Olivia Jenner, over the next 5:30 to pull within a score.
What seemed as though it could be Duke's last chance to tie, Jenner drew a foul with 1:33 remaining. She stepped up for an eight-meter shot but was saved by the Hokies' goalie. Virginia Tech called a timeout with 40 seconds remaining, looking to keep possession and leave Durham with a 10-9 win in both teams' ACC opener.
Katie Cronin had other ideas. The then-sophomore saw an opportunity to create a turnover at the 20 second mark before taking it straight to the cage, putting it past the Virginia Tech goalie to tie with nine seconds remaining.
"I was marked up on the ball and was given one job: to chase the ball down and try to get it back," Cronin said. "I got a great opportunity for a back check and was able to take advantage of it, get the ball and eventually score. Once I had the ball, it was pure adrenaline to take the ball down to score as I knew the time was very limited."
Jenner won the ensuing draw to force overtime.
Came through in the clutch ??
— Duke Women's Lacrosse (@DukeWLAX) February 25, 2019
Katie Cronin on Saturday:
?? ?? CTO in the final 20 seconds
?? Game-tying goal with 9 seconds left ??
?? Corralled draw control in OT ?? set up gwg #GoDuke pic.twitter.com/ABkyyvWYRV
Duke head coach Kerstin Kimel drew up a play to give Duke a chance, but the Blue Devils needed the ball on the opening draw. After the ball slid around the wet turf for a bit, Cronin gathered it and began the push to the Hokies' goal.
"In over time we had a play drawn up but we knew that was only possible if we got the ball," Cronin continued. "Our draw team had been great and I was able to get the ground ball and safely get it to the attacking end."
"I remember coming off the sideline at the end of the second half to go in for overtime and being told by the coaches that I would be the feeder in our OT play," then-junior Catherine Cordrey said. "I couldn't even feel my hands at that point because the weather was so cold and all my layers were soaked through from the rain. Teammates were rubbing my hands in our huddle to warm them up before we went in."
Cronin got the ball into the attacking third and gave it to Cordrey. She created space and found a cutting Ellie Majure who buried the ball in the cage to give the Blue Devils the 11-10 win.
Wild, ??-soaked day on the turf but the Devs get it done in OT ????
— Duke Women's Lacrosse (@DukeWLAX) February 23, 2019
Duke erases late 3-goal deficit to top the Hokies, 11-10, on @Majure_League's game winner ?? https://t.co/8rlT78h85y#GoDuke pic.twitter.com/QrlXmKM0vM
"In the last few minutes of regulation and OT our team showed this tremendous amount of grit and resilience," Cordrey said. "Cronin won the draw and I said to myself 'this is it, we are going to score.' I had a feeling that Ellie would be the open cutter and trusted her to finish. It was an unreal win and feeling when she scored. The game is definitely one of my highlights from my four years on the team."
The team rushed Majure following the goal and enjoyed a celebration that made you forget about the dreadful weather.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
A
/ Women's Lacrosse
M
/ Women's LacrosseAndie Smith, Duke | Interview | CGN
Thursday, November 13
Kerstin Kimel James Madison Postgame Press Conference 5-9
Friday, May 09
Kerstin Kimel Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
Kerry Nease Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
