AKRON, Ohio – The Duquesne University lacrosse team overcame a four-goal deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime, where
Mackenzie Leszczynski delivered the game-winning goal, lifting the Dukes to a 12-11 victory over Akron in Saturday's season opener at Stile Fieldhouse. The win marked the first for Duquesne under head coach
Tracy Coyne.
QUOTABLE
"What an exciting way to start the season. The team showed tremendous heart and resilience during the momentum shifts throughout the game."
The team was locked in during the timeout when we went down by four. They executed the game plan perfectly and played to win for the last 8 minutes.
Multiple people stepped up in critical moments to make this victory happen. The sign of a good team is when multiple players contribute. That's what happened today," said Coyne.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a game defined by momentum swings, the Dukes led 3-2 after the first quarter before Akron shut them out in the second, building a 6-3 halftime advantage. Duquesne responded with a dominant third quarter, outscoring the Zips 4-0 to reclaim the lead. Akron countered with five unanswered goals to start the fourth, extending its advantage to 11-7 with 8:06 remaining.
Freshman
Mia Piocquidio sparked Duquesne's comeback with a goal at the 6:38 mark, igniting a run of four unanswered goals to send the game to overtime. Leszczynski cut the deficit to two with 4:54 left, followed by a goal from
Chelsea Evans with two minutes remaining.
Corinne Webb then netted the equalizer with under a minute to play off an assist from Leszczynski.
Hanna Pawela earned the draw control out of the gate in overtime and Leszczynski sealed the victory 33 seconds in, dodging past a defender and firing a straight-on shot past the Akron goalkeeper.
Junior
Emma Raines led the Dukes with a career-high four goals on five shots. Leszczynski, Piocquidio — who was in her collegiate debut — and Evans each added two goals. Evans, a 2023 A-10 All-Rookie selection returning to action after missing the 2024 season due to injury, also recorded an assist for a three-point performance.
Sophomore
Gracin Emerson tallied a career-high five assists, tying for the third-most in a single game in program history. Freshman
Megan Marco also had an assist.
Graduate student
Tristen Chang contributed a goal, opening the second-half scoring during the Dukes' 4-0 third-quarter run.
NOTES
Was first game and first win under head coach
Tracy Coyne ... Duquesne snaps a three-game season-opening losing streak and improves to 14-15 all-time in openers ... DU now 3-0 against Akron, was first game of series on the road.
Seven different Dukes had a caused turnover ... Pawela,
Emily King,
Addison Scanlon and goalkeeper
Megan LaBorne all had three ground balls apiece ... Piocquidio and
Emma Raines were both 1-for-1 from the free position ... Leszczynski charted a team-leading five draw controls ... LaBorne played all 60:33 in goal and made nine saves ... The Dukes were 18-for-18 on clears in the game.
UP NEXT
Duquesne will host Robert Morris for its 2025 home opener on Wednesday. First draw is slated for 2:00 p.m. at Rooney Field.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne Lacrosse all season online at
GoDuquesne.com, as well as on
Twitter,
Instagram, and
Facebook (@DuqLax).
