In any sport, the last home game of the season is always a tribute to the seniors.
As coach Liz Tchou coached six seniors in their last home game Saturday, three of those seniors knocked in all of Duke's goals in a 3-1 win over Davidson, finishing their home season 8-2.
Duke outshot Davidson 17-3, the Blue Devils' most dominant offensive game since a 30-shot game against Appalachian State.
Senior scoring leader Corey Ceccolini notched what proved to be the game-winner with 11:04 remaining in the first half, bringing her to a season total of 16 goals.
Ceccolini capped off her last home game as a Blue Devil as the seventh-highest single season scorer in Duke history. She has two more chances to climb in those rankings against Richmond and then UVa before the ACC tournament two weeks from now.
Fellow senior Keri Dunn drew first blood late in the first half on an assist from junior Courtney Sommer. Sommer stole the ball from a Wildcat defender dribbling into the circle before passing it to Dunn in the 15th minute of play.
Davidson fended off several Blue Devil fastbreaks to break into the scoring column for the first and last time with 11:51 left in the half. Wildcat freshman Alex Rogers converted a Davidson penalty corner on a push-in past goalie Jenn Robb.
"Davidson was really energetic and motivated to play a strong game," Tchou said.
Ceccolini put the pressure back on Davidson by scoring high over Wildcat goalie Nancy Livingston's head 47 seconds later.
Senior Anne Stanislawczyk scored the only goal of the second half on a rebound assist from Ceccolini on a Duke penalty corner 15 minutes into the half.
The goal capped a steady progression through Stanislawczyk's career in which she had one shot her freshman year, one assist her sophomore season, her first start last season, and Saturday, in her final home game, her first career goal.
Defensively, it was another senior who contributed as solidly as she has all season.
Goalie Robb recorded two saves on Davidson's three shots.
"The seniors have been great leaders for us," Tchou said.
In a game marked by powerful Duke offense and momentary lapses in concentration, the Blue Devil senior leaders performed what was needed to get the win in their final home game.
"At this point, a win's a win," Tchou said. "But we could have played a little sharper."
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