Fast Start Propels Duke to 17-8 Victory against Mercer

Saturday, February 13

Durham, N.C.

12 P.M.

Duke University

3-0

Mercer

1-2

Mercer University

Duke University

Joe Robertson shoots the ball against Mercer

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Fast Start Propels Duke to 17-8 Victory against Mercer

2/13/2021 3:57:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Box Score Joe Robertson Postgame Int.John Danowski Postgame Int.Photo Gallery

DURHAM, N.C.—Duke attackmen Michael Sowers and Joe Robertson combined for eight goals and 11 points total to lead the top-ranked Blue Devils to a 17-8 victory in men's lacrosse action Saturday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium. Twelve different players registered a point in the victory.

Playing in his first official game in 630 days, Robertson didn't skip a beat, tallying four goals and an assist. The four goals push his career total to 94, while the five points move him into a tie for 35th on the Duke scoring charts with 125 career points.

Ten of Duke's 17 goals were assisted and 44 Blue Devils overall saw action. Four different goalies saw time with Mike Adler getting the win. Andrew Bonafede had three saves as the goalie corps finished with six on the afternoon.

Duke (3-0) jumped all over Mercer (1-2) in the opening quarter, scoring the game's first five goals for a 5-0 lead just 6:52 into the game. Four different Blue Devils scored in that stretch with Robertson netting a pair.

Dyson Williams opened the scoring 50 seconds into the game on an assist from Nakeie Montgomery on the first Duke possession. Robertson put his first goal on the board at the 11:12 mark on a pass from Sowers. Robertson finished the first quarter with a hat trick.

The Blue Devils tacked on three more goals to finish the opening stanza with an 8-1 lead, including a marker from Jadon Kerry.

Duke, on the strength of three goals from Sowers, extended its lead to 13-3 at the half. Rookie faceoff specialist Jake Naso also got into the scoring mix for Duke with his first career tally. Sean Lowrie had the other, bringing Duke to 13 after 30 minutes.

Naso was solid at the faceoff X, winning 12-of-22 and picking up seven ground balls. Mercer's draw man Ashton Wood came in with over an 80 percent success rate and finished the day 15-of-28, far below his average.

Mercer outscored the Blue Devils 5-4 in the second half, getting two goals late in the fourth to bring the final to 17-8. Junior Garrett Leadmon capitalized on his lone shot of the day for his first goal of the 2021 campaign.

Michael Quinn was the scoring leader for the Bears with two goals, while six other players scored once. Colin Kelley made 10 saves between the pipes.

Duke finished with a 36-31 edge in ground balls and a 35-29 advantage in the shot department. Tyler Carpenter again was excellent in forcing four caused turnovers and picking up five ground ball.

The Blue Devils make their first road trip of the season next weekend, traveling to take on Towson, Feb. 20.

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