The now No. 5-ranked Virginia women’s lacrosse team ended No. 4 Duke’s undefeated season Saturday with a 13-10 victory at Klöckner Stadium and clinched a season-best three-game winning streak. The win also marked the Cavaliers’ third-straight victory against a top-25 team and first conference success of the season.
After Duke (9-1, 3-1 ACC) scored the opening goal, Virginia (6-4, 1-2 ACC) reeled off five straight to take a 5-1 lead midway through the half before each team scored two more goals to end the half. Although the Cavaliers only attempted one more shot than Duke in the first half, five of the Blue Devils’ 11 shots missed the mark. The other six resulted in three goals — two saves by freshman goalie Rachel Vander Kolk and a block.
Virginia opened the second half with two consecutive goals to extend its four goal halftime lead to six. Duke countered by scoring the game’s next four goals. With the score within reach for the Blue Devils, Virginia won back control and attempted three shots to extend its lead, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
After the last of the three shots resulted in a save and Duke briefly regained possession, Cavalier senior defender Kelsey Gahan caused the Blue Devils to turn the ball over a minute later and gave Virginia another chance to extend its lead. Another shot attempt was saved by Duke, but the Cavaliers forced another turnover, allowing senior attacker Liza Blue to finally find the hole after 14 scoreless minutes for the Cavaliers.
Two minutes later, Virginia scored another goal to push its lead back to four. Duke outscored the Cavaliers 3-2 in the final 10:41, but it wasn’t enough for the comeback as Vander Kolk made crucial saves on two of the last five Blue Devil shots.
Virginia finished the game with 20 of 25 shots on goal and, for the third straight game, was perfect on clears. The Cavaliers also held a slight 13-12 draw control advantage over the Blue Devils.
Senior attacker Casey Bocklet led the way for the Cavaliers with four goals, three of them coming in the first half. Duke’s senior attacker Kerrin Maurer led her team with three goals and two assists.
The Cavaliers will return to the field Wednesday when they face William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
—compiled by Chanhong Luu
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