Duke Tallies 16-8 Win at Pitt Sunday

Sunday, March 26

Pittsburgh, PA

12 PM

Duke University

6-5, 1-4ACC

Pitt

3-8, 0-5ACC

Duke

Pitt

Duke Tallies 16-8 Win at Pitt Sunday

3/26/2023 2:52:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

PITTSBURGH - Nine Blue Devils had a hand in the victory as 18th-ranked Duke tallied a 16-8 win at Pitt Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium.

Junior Katie DeSimone tallied six points from four goals and two dimes to pace the offensive contingent while graduate student Eva Greco added a career-high four goals for five points. Senior Lexi Schmalz netted a career-high five goals on six shots.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Panthers were first on the board with two scores the first 10 minutes of action before Duke took control and dominated much of the first half. The Blue Devils scored six unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead with 10 minutes to go in the second quarter as DeSimone had an early hat trick to help spark the offensive contingent.
With a four-goal lead, Pitt answered with three of the next four to cut into the deficit (7-5) heading into the intermission.
The Blue Devils were firing on offense in the opening half as they put 15-of-18 shots on cage and connected on four free-position opportunities.
Duke's defense locked down in the second half and prevented the Panthers from scoring for nearly 15 minutes as they took only three shots.
The Blue Devils tallied four goals during that span to hold a commanding 11-5 lead nearing the end of the third. DeSimone connected on her fourth goal of the day minutes before dishing a nice pass for Jenner who scampered to the goal at 9:10.
Duke scored 45 seconds into the final quarter as Lexi Schmalz notched her first of the frame, making it 12-6 in favor of the Blue Devils. Pitt added two final goals (12-8) before the Blue Devils went on their third run of the contest with four unanswered. Eva Greco spearheaded the run with three of the four as she ended the game with a career-high four scores.
Duke commanded the draw control circle, winning 18 of the 28, led by Jenner with 15.
The defense locked in all game and registered 11 caused turnovers to Pitt's three, led by Veronica Hineman with a tied-for-career high three.
The Panthers were led by Sydney Naylor with three points. Goalie Hannah Van Middelem had 13 saves in cage.

NOTABLES

Duke moves to 6-5 on the season and 1-4 in conference play with its second straight victory.
Head coach Kerstin Kimel secured her 338th career victory and the 334th at the helm of the Blue Devils.
The all-time series goes to 2-0 in favor of Duke.
DeSimone registered her seventh hat trick this season and her sixth contest with four-or-more points.
Hineman filled up the stat sheet with three caused turnovers, two draw controls and a ground ball while Maddie McCorkle led the team with a career-high four ground balls.
Senior defender Cubby Biscardi was credited with two caused turnovers — she now owns 91 for her career, which is tied for seventh in Duke history.
Senior goalie Shaye Fitzpatrick got the start in cage and picked up five saves for her fourth win this spring.