Duke defined dominance when the Canisius Golden Griffins visited Durham Tuesday afternoon. The No. 5 Blue Devils (4-1) beat Canisius (1-4) 15-1, and the outcome of the game was decided in the first quarter.
Freshman phenom Matt Danowski powered past a helpless Golden Griffins defender and rifled in the game's first goal with 10:58 remaining in the opening period.
A minute later senior Chris Haunss delivered a precision pass across the crease to a streaking Danowski, who promptly beat the goalie with a high bouncing shot.
Danowski finished with four goals and a pair of assists. Grant Byczek, Ben Fenton and Haunss had two goals apiece. Dan Flannery was also impressive, totaling one goal and four assists.
Canisius struggled to get the ball on Duke's side of the pitch all day. Duke had full control of the game, winning almost every battle for possession. The Blue Devils dominated faceoffs 14-4, and bullied Canisius while pursuing ground balls.
After the game, Duke head coach Mike Pressler was pleased.
"We respected our opponent and we played good defense again," Pressler said. "You hold anyone to one goal that's a good day."
The contest was a humbling experience for Canisius, who was invited to Durham largely in part to Duke assistant coach Jon Lantzy's close connection with the Golden Griffins. Lantzy spent five years as an assistant coach at Canisius.
The game was a learning experience for Golden Griffins' head coach Randy Mearns.
"Just look at that squad," he said. "That's definitely a No. 5 team in the country. They are just all physically fit, big athletic kids and, man, they can put the ball in the net and they took it to us. Our guys scrapped and banged around and played with a lot of heart, but they are at a different level than us."
Now the Blue Devils look towards their next game, a bout with No. 8 North Carolina at Koskinen Stadium Saturday. The Canisius victory can only mean good things for Duke as it heads into a game with its Tobacco Road foe.
"I think when you go into a game like this, you want to try to gain momentum," Danowski said. "I think that's what we did today. I'm excited for my first game against UNC, our rival school, and I'm ready to go."
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