PITTSBURGH – The Duquesne University lacrosse team fell in a heartbreaker to Kent State on Thursday night at Rooney Field, losing 16-15 in overtime.

Duquesne is now 0-2 on the year while Kent State is 1-1.

It was a back-and-forth game throughout, but Kent State was able to land the final punch in overtime. In a game with eight ties, it was fitting that the two teams needed extra time to finish it.

Sophomore Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw led the Dukes with six goals and seven points. Freshmen Chelsea Evans and Chloe Holmes each recorded a hat-trick, the first of their respective careers.

Kent State jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the first, but Duquesne came back with two goals in the last two minutes, including a buzzer-beater from Evans as time expired.

A goal by Holmes, her third of the season, tied up the game at 5-5 early in the second quarter, then a fourth goal by Rodriguez-Shaw gave the Dukes the lead.

The lead was short-lived though, as Kent State score three-straight to take an 8-6 lead into halftime.

Similar to the season opener against Pitt, Duquesne came out of halftime a completely different team. The Dukes scored six-straight goals to start the half.

Evans and Holmes each scored to once again tie the game, then sophomore Mackenzie Leszczynski's goal at 7:57 in the third gave Duquesne the lead back at 9-8. Another three goals by Duquesne put it up by four, but Kent State countered with two goals bring it within two headed into the final quarter.

After two goals by the Golden Flashes, Rodriguez-Shaw netted her fifth goal of the game to give Duquesne the lead with 5:45 left. With 1:28 left, she scored on a clutch free-position shot to put the Dukes up 15-14, but the game went to overtime.

In overtime, Kent State struck first to win the game, 16-15.

Duquesne is back on the field on Tuesday, Feb. 21 to when it goes on the road to Penn State at 4:00 P.M. ET.

GAME NOTES

• Rodriguez-Shaw tied a career high with six goals today. Her eight shots on goal also tied a career high and her 12 shots set a new career high.
• Evans and Holmes each recorded their first career hat-trick tonight.