Virginia Men's Lacrosse Stifled Once Again by No. 4 Duke in 18-12 Loss
The streak continues…
On Sunday in Durham, with a chance to deliver a statement win, No. 2 Virginia men's lacrosse (10-2, 1-1 ACC) fell to No. 4 Duke (11-3, 1-2 ACC) for the 19th straight time in the regular season, an absurd statistic considering the Cavaliers have won four national championships during that span.
The struggles began in the first quarter with Duke jumping out to an early 7-3 lead as Matthew Nunes registered zero saves in the quarter, resulting in Kyle Morris stepping in a cage for the remainder of the contest. Despite the goalie change, Virginia was only able to cut the lead to as low as three as the Cavaliers had no response for Brennan O’Neil and Josh Zawada, who combined for eleven points.
Griffin Schutz was the first to find the net thanks to a backhanded assist by Jack Boyden. On the ensuing faceoff, Duke’s Jake Naso was injured on the play, an injury he would visibly battle through for the remainder of the game. Naso was a First-Team All-American faceoff specialist last season, a player essential to the Blue Devils' success. Despite the injury struggles, Naso finished 8/17 from the stripe and added two goals in the second half.
After that, Duke responded with a 7-2 run, with Josh Zawada netting a goal and dishing an assist, while Brennan O’Neil scored three goals to give the Blue Devils a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. The quarter was the most goals Virginia has allowed in a single quarter all season.
Stepping between the pipes and looking to provide a spark, Morris was up to the challenge for his first test, making a key save to stifle the Blue Devils. After that, both teams scored two apiece, with Zawada scoring both for Duke. Morris finished the game with five saves and a 31.3 save percentage.
In need of a response, Connor Shellenberger fired back with a goal and assist, to cut the lead to two before O’Neil scored to make it 10-7 at halftime.
At the half, Duke’s Patrick Jameison registered nine saves to Kyle Morris’s two. Despite this, Virginia only trailed by three, with Connor Shellenberger leading the Cavaliers with a goal and two assists.
For the Blue Devils, Virginia failed to contain Duke’s stars as Brennan O’Neil had four goals and an assist, while Josh Zawada had three goals and an assist.
With Naso battling injury, Virginia led the faceoff battle 12-7 at the half and also dominated the ground ball battle with a 26-15 advantage.
Duke scored the opening three goals of the third quarter to give the Blue Devils a six-goal lead, putting the game seemingly out of reach for the Cavaliers.
Despite this, the Cavaliers continued to fight back, with Schutz scoring to cut the bleeding, which ignited a three-goal run, cutting the lead to three headed to the fourth quarter.
To start the fourth, Duke responded, rifling off four straight goals, killing all of Virginia’s momentum.
In response, Ben Wayer scored in transition before McCabe Millon scored on the ensuing faceoff to make it 17-12, but Naso scored on the ensuing faceoff to snuff out any hopes of a comeback.
After that, Virginia had no answer, falling to Duke 18-12.
The Cavaliers are now 2-24 in their last 26 matchups against the Blue Devils, as no matter the circumstances, it’s never Virginia’s day against Duke.
After suffering its second loss of the season, Virginia will look to rebound against Syracuse on the road next Saturday at 2pm.