Duke Drops Close Contest to No. 6 UNC, 13-12

Thursday, April 20

Durham, N.C.

5:30 PM

Duke University

North Carolina

Women's Lacrosse vs. UNC - Maddie Jenner

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

Duke Drops Close Contest to No. 6 UNC, 13-12

4/20/2023 9:48:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score Photo Gallery

DURHAM – Duke women's lacrosse dropped a hard-fought 13-12 decision to sixth-ranked North Carolina Thursday evening at Koskinen Stadium.

Offensively, the Blue Devils were led by graduate student Maddie Jenner with a career-high five points by way of three goals and two assists. Senior Caroline DeBellis also added three points from two goals and a dime on her senior night.

Defensively, the Blue Devils locked down on defense, particularly on North Carolina's leading scorer Caitlyn Wurzburger. She finished the game with one goal on just three shots.

Perhaps one of the bigger storylines of the game was freshman goalie Madison Drebing. Making her first start since March 14 against Yale and just the second of her career, Drebing made five saves in the absence of Sophia LeRose through 53 minutes. Prior to tonight she had seen action in just 34 minutes since April 1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke opened the first quarter with a commanding 5-1 lead after the first 15 minutes and limited North Carolina to just five shots. Eva Greco and Katie Keller led the way with two goals apiece as Duke put six shots on goal.
The dominance at the draw circle played a huge role in Duke's four-goal lead, winning it 6-1.
North Carolina flipped the switch in the second to cut Duke's lead to just one heading into halftime. Jenner found the back of the cage for the second time on the evening as Alyssa Long tallied two of her own.
After 30 minutes of action, Duke held a slight 6-5 lead. Prior to tonight, Duke was 7-2 when leading at halftime.
Much like we've seen at times this season, the third quarter was tough on the Blue Devils. North Carolina tacked on five goals to Duke's three as the Tar Heels pushed ahead 10-9 after 45 minutes. Defender Maddie Johnston registered her first-career goal at 7:33 on a man-down opportunity to make it 7-7. The two teams traded the next four goals before Carolina scored with less than 60 ticks left in the quarter.
The Blue Devils picked up their fourth yellow card of the day at 9:04 in the third, meaning every card after that would be non-releasable. Duke was penalized two additional times after that, putting it a player down for six total minutes.
Down by one, DeBellis and Jenner teamed up for their second of the game to open the fourth (14:09) before Carly Bernstein dished a nice feed just in front of the cage for an unreal finish from Maddie McCorkle to regain the lead.
North Carolina tallied three unanswered (13-11) for the seventh lead change this evening.
Lexi Schmalz did what Lexi Schmalz does and got fouled to set up a free-position attempt with 4:32 left in the game. She finished her shot to make it a one-goal deficit (13-12), her 14th free-position goal this spring.
Duke won a crucial draw control but it couldn't find an answer in the final minutes of action.

NOTABLES

Duke drops to 7-9 overall and 1-8 in conference play.
North Carolina improves to 12-3 overall and 7-2 in the ACC.
Katie DeSimone, Duke's leading scorer, was held without a point in the contest. This was the second time this season and just the ninth time in her career.
Tonight was Jenner's fourth hat trick this season and the 13th of her career.
Jenner collected seven draws this evening, moving her career number to 777 as the NCAA Division I leader.
Duke is now 0-5 in one-goal games this season.
Duke honored its senior class after the game – Cubby Biscardi, Missy Biscardi, Olivia Carner, Kay Conway, Caroline DeBellis, Shaye Fitzpatrick, Olivia Navaroli, Virginia Oursler, Lexi Schmalz, Ainsley Thurston and Stephanie Zempolich.

UP NEXT

Duke turns its attention to the ACC Tournament.

For more information on Duke women's lacrosse, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeWLAX.

#GoDuke