Upcoming Event: Track & Field versus Duke Invitational on April 8, 2026
Track & Field
vs Duke Invitational
Breslin, Hartofilis Lift Men's Lacrosse Past Butler, 12-4
DURHAM, N.C. (Feb. 25) - Chris Hartofilis registered two goals and three assists and Matt Breslin recorded 14 saves to lead seventh-ranked Duke to a 12-4 win over visiting Butler University on Feb. 25 at a rain-soaked Duke Turf Field.
The win marked the 100th victory for head coach Mike Pressler at Duke. Pressler is now 100-49 in 10-plus seasons with the Blue Devils and holds an overall head coaching ledger of 176-69.
The Blue Devils move to 2-0 on the year while the Bulldogs fall to 1-1.
"Today's game was another very strong defensive performance for us," Pressler said. "(Defense) has been our strength. I thought offensively at times we showed some brilliance and at times we showed a lack of poise. It is a positive win for us and now the ACC season starts for us at Maryland next weekend."
After Butler went ahead 1-0 on a goal by Chris Aitkin, Duke's Hunter Henry scored back-to-back goals for a 2-1 Blue Devil advantage. Hartofilis then tallied a goal and assisted on a score by Dan Doty as Duke took a 4-1 lead at the end of the first period. In the second quarter, Hartofilis and Kevin Brennan found the back of the net for Duke while Butler countered with scores from Ryan Ward and Doug Patterson.
Duke's Alex Lieske opened the second half scoring with a goal from Terrence Keaney at the 10:54 mark before Keaney scored an unassisted goal just over a minute later to give Duke an 8-3 lead. Butler's Adam Cichostepski scored with just under four minutes remaining in the period to cut the lead to 8-4.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Blue Devils as Breslin made six of his 14 saves in the period. Mack Hardaker scored twice during the quarter and Hartofilis picked up two more assists as Duke outscored the Bulldogs, 4-0, in the quarter.
"We were definitely more comfortable today," Hartofilis said. "When we start moving the ball and running the offense, we put the ball in the net. It is invaluable when Matt (Breslin) gets the ball out. It's offense right out of the defensive end. We just need to convert on more of those opportunities."
Duke travels to meet Maryland on Sunday at 12 noon while Butler hosts Radford on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 F Butler Bulldogs 1 2 1 0 4 #7 Duke Blue Devils 4 2 2 4 12 Tm Time Goal (Assist) FIRST QUARTER Butler 11:52 Aitkin Duke 8:31 Henry Duke 3:19 Henry Duke 2:30 Hartofilis (Lieske) Duke 2:15 Doty (Hartofilis) SECOND QUARTER Duke 12:31 Hartofilis (Cassese) Butler 11:26 Ward (Patterson) Duke 10:16 Brennan Butler 3:40 Patterson THIRD QUARTER Duke 10:54 Lieske (Keaney) Duke 9:49 Keaney Butler 3:50 Cichostepski FOURTH QUARTER Duke 14:29 Hardaker (Chemotti) Duke 13:50 Brennan (Hartofilis) Duke 5:29 Brennan (Cassese) Duke 3:28 Hardaker (Hartofilis)FINAL: Duke 12, Butler 4
RECORDS: Duke 2-0; Butler 1-1GAME SUMMARY
Butler Scoring
Goals: Patterson 1, Aitkin 1, Ward 1, Cichostepski 1
Assists: Patterson 1Duke Scoring
Goals: Brennan 3, Henry 2, Hartofilis 2, Hardaker 2, Doty 1, Lieske 1, Keaney 1
Assists: Hartofilis 3, Cassese 2, Lieske 1, Chemotti 1, Keaney 1BUTLER STARTERS
Aitkin (A), Cichostepski (M), Lamb (D), Keyes (M), Mauro (D), Ruccia (A), Patterson (A), Stopper (D), Ward (D), Winkler (G)DUKE STARTERS
Breslin (G), Hardaker (A), Hartofilis (M), Hauber (D), Henry (M), Doty (A), Keating (M), Lieske (A), Schwartz (D), Watt (D)SHOTS
Butler 25, Duke 43SAVES
Butler 13(Winkler), Duke 14 (Breslin)GROUND BALLS
Butler 21, Duke 41CLEARS
Butler13/18, Duke 13/18EMOs
Butler 0/2, Duke 2/5FACE-OFFS
Butler 6/20 Duke 14/20ATTENDANCE: 172
