Just a week after losing to No. 1 Northwestern, the Blue Devils got a chance to face another of the nation’s best teams Saturday.
This time, though, Duke held on for a 10-9 win over No. 2 Maryland (3-1, 0-1 in the ACC), avenging last season’s NCAA quarterfinal loss and defeating the Terrapins for the first time since 2008.
In their ACC home opener, the No. 5 Blue Devils (4-2, 1-0) showed patience on the offensive end and dominated time of possession. After a game characterized by several important momentum swings, Duke pulled ahead late in the second period and melted away the final minutes of the game to knock off the Terrapins.
For the first 25 minutes of the first half, Maryland barely even touched the ball in its own offensive end. The Blue Devils controlled possession and cleared the ball well, patiently working their way to a 5-0 lead with 4:33 left in the period. But the last four minutes of the half proved disastrous for Duke. Freshman Kelly McPartland scored the Terrapins’ first goal with 3:15 left in the first period, opening the flood gates against the Blue Devil defense. Maryland poured in four more goals before the end of the half and headed into the locker room tied 5-5 with all the momentum.
“I was grateful for halftime,” Duke head coach Kerstin Kimel said. “I really got on the defense because that is our more veteran group. We cannot give up a five-goal run like that. That was unacceptable.”
Duke’s defensive woes continued early in the second half. Terrapin sophomore midfielder Beth Glaros netted two goals to give Maryland a 7-5 lead with 26:56 left to play, and the Blue Devil defense appeared incapable of stopping the Terrapins’ fast-paced offensive attack.
Despite allowing seven unanswered goals, Duke managed to turn the game’s momentum back in its favor. Blue Devil freshman attacker Taylor Trimble capitalized on two free position opportunities, tieing the score at seven with 17:31 left to play. Trimble’s fellow freshman attacker, Kerrin Maurer, put Duke ahead several minutes later with her ninth goal of the season. After sophomore Maddy Morrissey netted her third goal of the day, midfielder Molly Quirke scored the Blue Devils’ final goal with just under 10 minutes left.
Duke tried to keep possession and stall as the final minutes ticked off the clock, but Maryland rallied for two late goals, though its last came with just seven seconds left.
“We did a great job,” Kimel said. “To score double digit goals was big... but also just to stick to our game plan and show poise and confidence was huge.”
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