March 31, 2006

Box Score

Down 4-3 at the half, the Dukes (7-2) lacrosse team out-scored the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes 4-2 and out-shot them 19-14 in the second frame en route to a 7-6 non-conference win Friday afternoon on a rain-soaked Rooney Field. A solid performance by rookie keeper Meredith Norris in front of the cage was a key to the Dukes success. She stopped 12 shots - eight in the second frame - which included back-to-back saves within :41 seconds mid-way through the period which kept the game knotted at 5-5. Four different Dukes scored as Ashley Wood, Courtney Tamasitis and Kelly Mulford hit two goals each and Caroline Gallagher added one. Keri Drexel and Meredith Williams each had an assist in the win.

Ohio State (0-8) was led by Kristen Slahor with two scores while keeper Kristen Gilwee had 14 saves.

The Buckeyes scored first as Slahor hit an unassisted goal with just :33 off the clock before nearly 10 minutes of scoreless play went by. Kelyn Laws hit an unassisted score at 10:39 for a 2-0 led before Gallagher's free position goal put the Dukes on the board at 12:10. It was a solid game on both ends of the field as 9:18 ticked away before Slahor hit a free position shot for a 3-1 Ohio State edge at 21:28. Kristen Hannon took a feed from Jessica Patane just :07 later upping the edge to 4-1 in favor of the Buckeyes. Duquesne's Mulford hit back-to-back unassisted goals at 26:20 and 27:01 for a 4-3 half-time deficit.

Duquesne came out on fire in the second stanza as Ashley Wood tied the game with an unassisted goal 1:48 into the frame. DU's Gallagher won the draw down the field near the OSU cage to set up Williams' feed to Wood just :12 later to give the Dukes their first lead of the game, 5-4 2:00 into play. Lindsay Weiner knotted the game at 5-5 finding the back of the cage at 7:03. Ohio State's Patane was set for a free position shot a minute later, but moved before the whistle for the turnover and Duquesne possession. Norris made solid saves at 13:53 and 14: 42 to keep the game at 5-5. Tamasitis' free position goal at 21:34 put the Dukes' up 6-5 and she was awarded a goal from Drexel at 22:39 after two saves DU shots and a scramble in front of the OSU cage for a 7-5 edge. The Buckeyes forced a DU turnover in the final minute and found the back of the cage with :01 ticking for the 7-6 final.

Duquesne held an 8-7 in draws won, 13-6 advantage in caused turnovers and a 29-27 edge in shots. Ohio State led in ground balls 22-18 and in saves, 14-12. The Buckeyes committed 22 turnovers to the Dukes' 16 for the game.

The win is the fifth-straight for the 7-2 Dukes who open Atlantic 10 play next Friday, Apr. 7, hosting La Salle at 4:00 pm on Rooney Field.