DURHAM, N.C. – Women's lacrosse picked up its biggest win of the season, knocking off No. 12 Duke, 14–12, on Tuesday evening in North Carolina.
Upsetting the Blue Devils on the back of a five-goal game from Kate Gilliam, the Crimson jumped ahead early and fought off Duke's attack before clutch goals from Charlotte Hodgson and the Batchelder sisters helped secure the win over the nationally ranked Blue Devils.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harvard scored the first three goals of the game, as it was the usual suspects for the Crimson getting things off and running. Tori Balser made her defender slip, while Kate Gilliam added two more to give Harvard a 3–0 lead nearly halfway into the first quarter. Duke responded with three goals in just over two minutes to tie the game as the first quarter came to a close.
Kate Gilliam picked up where she left off in the first quarter with two more goals, as the senior captain scored four of the Crimson's first five. Duke responded to pull within one after Avery Doran got on the board before the Batchelder sisters joined the offense.
Cecilia Batchelder scored her first of the game after a spin and finish off a feed from Gilliam on the woman-up advantage. Duke scored its fifth goal of the game with 2:09 left in the half to make it 7–5 at the break.
Kate Gilliam scored again for her fifth of the game to start the second half before Grace Mullahy netted a highlight-reel goal after getting one-on-one coverage to put the Crimson up 9–5. Duke answered once again with six of the next seven goals to take an 11–10 lead in the fourth quarter.
Charlotte Hodgson tied the game after working her way through the Blue Devils' defense and scoring through contact before Cecilia Batchelder added the go-ahead goal 20 seconds later. Once again, Duke answered to tie the game.
Emma Barkauskas made two huge stops with the score tied to keep the game level and send the Crimson the other way.
The Crimson took the lead for good after a defensive lapse from the Blue Devils left the junior all alone. With 3:59 left in the game, a quick dodge and shot from Charlotte Hodgson sealed the deal and gave the Crimson its biggest win of the season.
GAME NOTES
NEXT UP
Harvard returns to Jordan Field on Mar. 24 to take on Holy Cross.
