For the first time in program history, the Duke women's lacrosse team can celebrate an ACC regular season championship. The Blue Devils (7-3, 3-0 in the ACC) accomplished their feat by knocking off fifth-ranked Virginia (9-3, 2-1) and held the nation's leading goal scorer, the Cavaliers' Amy Appelt, without a goal in the first half.
"It's awesome. It feels amazing," junior Kristy Dirks said. "Last year we got upset by Virginia in the ACC tournament and this year is revenge. We wanted to get back at them."
Saturday, the No. 6 Blue Devils did just that as a patient offense and aggressive defense resulted in a 10-9 victory.
Duke fired first, as it jumped out to a 4-0 lead within the first 15 minutes of action. Sophomore Katie Chrest continued her stellar play of late, as she assisted teammate Kristy Dirks on two of her team-high four goals. Chrest added three goals of her own, bringing her season total to 24.
The Blue Devils controlled the tempo of the game all afternoon, limiting Virginia's offensive chances. Duke's attack showed incredible patience by passing the ball around the perimeter until a teammate broke free. Eight of the 10 Blue Devil goals were assisted, as opposed to just one of the Cavaliers' nine scores.
"That was our game plan," Dirks said. "We decided we needed the ball more than them because they have a pretty threatening offense too. The fact that we held the ball and they weren't able to get it helped us a lot."
Duke's attention much of the game was on its defense, which, in the first half especially, was nothing short of superb. Appelt, a 2003 second-team All-American for Virginia, entered the contest with 50 goals through the team's first 11 games.
"She's a great player," Blue Devil head coach Kerstin Kimel said. "She's smaller, which is too her advantage. She's really quick and she's really strong."
Appelt failed to score in the first half as she was harassed and knocked down by Duke.
"Basically every time she got the ball we were doubling her right away," senior Meghan Walters said. "We played 'body' and tried to get as low as possible because she's really short and really quick. We just basically tried to take her out of her element, which is to roll the crease."
Visibly frustrated in the first half, Appelt had more success in the second period due in large part to Blue Devil fouls, which set up free position opportunities.
Down 10-5, Appelt went on a surge of her own, scoring three consecutive goals and putting Virginia back within striking distance with just under four minutes remaining. Although she netted four goals in the half, just one came in a Virginia offensive set, as the other three were scored on free position shots.
With a two goal margin, Duke maintained control of the ball as the clock ran down to the Blue Devils' first ACC title. Virginia would add a meaningless goal as time expired, but Duke was already celebrating the win.
"In the best conference in the country, to be the number one seed heading into the tournament and win the regular season outright, we've never done it," Kimel said. "It's a fabulous accomplishment for these kids."
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