PITTSBURGH – Mackenzie Leszczynski rebounded a shot off the crossbar and scored the game-winning goal with 1:22 remaining to lift the Duquesne lacrosse team to an 11-10 victory over George Washington on Saturday afternoon at Rooney Field. The Dukes improved to 4-2 overall, while the Revolutionaries moved to 5-2 after the teams' mutual Atlantic 10 opener.
QUOTABLE
"I'm obviously thrilled with the team today and our overall effort," head coach Tracy Coyne said postgame. "This was a big one for us. The team came in with a calm confidence, and when it mattered most, we found a way to get it done."
LEADING THE WAY
Leszczynski led all players with a game-high six points, tallying four goals and two assists. Tristen Chang recorded her first career hat trick, while Corinne Webb, Mia Piocquidio, Gracin Emerson, and Kelsea Cooke each added one goal. Cooke's goal was the first of her collegiate career. Emerson and freshman Megan Marco contributed one assist apiece.
"Their goalie puts off a lot of rebounds, and that was something we knew coming into the game. Luckily, we were able to (get the rebound and) put it in," Leszczynski said after the win. "It was a real team effort. It was really exciting."
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a defensive-minded first quarter, GW took a 1-0 lead with 39 seconds left. The Dukes responded with three straight goals in the second quarter to go up 4-3 midway through the period. The teams then traded goals, with a Leszczynski-to-Webb connection giving Duquesne a 6-5 lead just 43 seconds before halftime.
Coming out of the break, Duquesne extended its lead to three — the largest of the game — at 9-6 with 3:40 remaining in the third quarter and 10-7 heading into the fourth after a 4-2 scoring edge in the period.
GW opened the fourth quarter with three straight goals to tie the game at 10 with 7:19 to play. Less than a minute later, Megan LaBorne made her seventh save of the day to keep the score even. The Dukes then took control, with their defense forcing three turnovers in the final four minutes, preventing the Revolutionaries from getting another shot off. The GW goalkeeper made a save, and two Duquesne shots hit the crossbar before Leszczynski scooped up the rebound of Webb's free-position shot and, in one motion, put the ball in the net to secure the win. Emily King and Piocquidio sealed the victory teaming up for a caused turnover with less than 20 seconds remaining.
MOVING UP IN THE RECORD BOOK
Senior Hanna Pawela led all players with a season-high six caused turnovers, moving into second place in Duquesne history for career caused turnovers. She is now just the second Duke ever to reach 130 in a career. Pawela also had a team-high four ground balls, tied with Chelsea Evans — who charted five caused turnovers as well — and Addison Scanlon.
NOTES
The win snapped a three-game losing streak in A-10 openers for DU, improving the program to 13-13 all-time in conference openers ... DU's defense had a season-high 18 caused turnovers on GW's 22 giveaways ... Duquesne outshot GW 25-21 overall, including a 21-17 edge in shots on goal.
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
Head Coach Tracy Coyne
Mackenzie Leszczynski
UP NEXT
Duquesne will travel to La Salle on Wednesday for a 2 p.m. matchup.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne Lacrosse all season online at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqLax).
