Fast Start Pushes Duke Past East Carolina, 14-12

Tuesday, March 26

Durham, N.C.

5 PM

Duke University

7-5

East Carolina

3-7

East Carolina

Duke

Fast Start Pushes Duke Past East Carolina, 14-12

3/26/2024 8:53:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Box Score

DURHAM – Duke's fast start was the difference maker as the Blue Devils outlasted East Carolina, 14-12, Tuesday evening in non-conference action at Koskinen Stadium.

Duke was once again led by Katie DeSimone with five points from three goals and two assists while Mattie Shearer added a hat trick in the victory.

Defensively, Lexi Schmalz grabbed two ground balls while five different players added caused turnovers. Duke was dominant on the draw control circle, winning the battle, 24-5, and was led by Kerry Nease with seven and Bella Goodwin with five.

Duke held East Carolina's leading scorer and daughter of head coach Kerstin Kimel, Caroline Kimel, to just one point.

How it Happened

Duke came out shooting fast and furious and quickly took a 7-1 lead after the first quarter. DeSimone tallied two goals and a dime to help kickstart the offense.
The two teams combined for nine goals in the second quarter. East Carolina's Erin Gulden tallied two of its four goals in the second frame, but still struggled defensively against Duke's high-powered offense.
East Carolina tacked on two goals in the final minute of the half to make it 12-5 at the intermission.
East Carolina tallied eight unanswered goals to pull within one (12-11) and held Duke scoreless the entire third quarter, even though Duke won the draw control battle (6-0).
Duke was held scoreless for 23 minutes and finally got on the board at 9:28 in the fourth quarter as Olivia Carner found the back of the cage for the first time this evening. East Carolina responded, 13-12, with just under seven remaining. Down by one with four minutes remaining, ECU got a good look at the cage but was forced into a shot clock violation.
Duke got the ball back with a one-goal lead before DeSimone found Mattie Shearer to seal the deal with 2:20 remaining.

Notables

It was head coach Kerstin Kimel's 347th-career victory and her 343rd at the helm of the Blue Devils.
The all-time series moves to 7-0 in favor of Duke.
Duke moves to 4-3 in contests in Durham.
DeSimone now owns 251 career points to rank fourth in program history. She is 36 points shy of tying Duke great Katie Chrest Erbe's all-time points record of 287.
DeSimone has been Duke's leading scorer in all 12 games this spring.
Duke utilized Kennedy Everson and Courtney Kaufman in the cage.
Duke outshot East Carolina, 43-23, and was nearly flawless on clears (11-of-12).
ECU was led by Gulden, Ellie Bromley and Sarah Goodison. Goalie Brynn Knight came off the bench and tallied seven saves in 48 minutes.

Next Game

Duke will continue its home slate with No. 8 Virginia Saturday at 1 p.m.

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

Duke Centennial
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