Sports | Men's Lacrosse - The Chronicle

Superstar freshman Brennan O'Neill was an integral part of a star-studded cast, but the Blue Devils never reached perfect chemistry this season.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

Column: Lack of chemistry haunted Duke men’s lacrosse against Maryland, but future remains bright

By Evan Kolin | May 30, 2021

John Danowski said it in the press conference heading into Championship Weekend. “If you ask me any one intangible that you want to have above everything, just give me great team chemistry. And that takes a while to develop.”

Despite Jake Naso's rise this season, the Blue Devils went just 10-for-22 on faceoffs in their 14-5 loss to Maryland.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

Once labeled a possible superteam, Duke men's lacrosse completes season short of its potential

By Shane Smith | May 30, 2021

The so-called "potential superteam" never seemed unbeatable throughout the year and was more than susceptible to losing in a Final Four that included all four of the tournament's top seeds. But when the Blue Devils boast the defensive player of the year, a Tewaaraton finalist, eight total All-Americans and the winningest coach in Division I history, it was always championship or bust for Duke, who looked anything but super in the semifinals.

Michael Sowers was held to just two goals in Duke's semifinal loss to Maryland.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

TERRAPIN TAKEOVER: Duke men's lacrosse throttled by Maryland in Final Four

By Sasha Richie | May 29, 2021

Two conference champions, two Tewaaraton Award finalists, a laundry list of All-Americans at both ends and a trip to the NCAA Championship Game on the line. It should’ve been a close game.

Joe Robertson has only 21 goals on the year, but three of them have been game winners.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

"Captain Clutch": The story of Duke men's lacrosse's Joe Robertson

By Shane Smith | May 28, 2021

Nicknamed "Captain Clutch" for a reason, the senior attackman feeds off the sudden-death energy late in games. Duke has gone into overtime four times this season... and Robertson has won the game with the necessary goal in three of those games.

In his first postseason, Michael Sowers will look to lead Duke past the unbeaten Terrapins.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

'Another week with the boys': Duke men's lacrosse set to take on No. 3 Maryland in Final Four

By Sasha Richie | May 28, 2021

Whatever the outcome of Saturday’s game, it certainly should be one of the most exciting matchups of the season. But as the Blue Devils make their way to Championship Weekend, the nitty-gritty stats and rankings don’t matter nearly as much as the opportunity to play with one another in the moments they’ve dreamt about since childhood.

Giles-Harris needs one more caused turnover to break Duke's career record.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

Duke men's lacrosse's JT Giles-Harris named National Defensive Player of the Year

By Evan Kolin | May 27, 2021

The New York native becomes the third Duke player to earn the award, following Tyler Hardy in 1996 and Nick O'Hara in 2008.

Adler, a second-team All-American, has been an instrumental part of Duke's success this season.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

Avid surfer, shark attack survivor, All-American: Meet Duke men’s lacrosse goalie Mike Adler

By Evan Kolin | May 27, 2021

Mike Adler wasn’t supposed to be a lacrosse star. He and his brother played baseball as kids. When he was in high school, he wanted to become a professional surfer. Even once he decided to pursue playing college lacrosse, schools told him he wasn't good enough to play at that level. And at 16 years old, he nearly lost his foot in a shark attack.

Senior Joe Robertson logged his third overtime game-winner of the season against Loyola.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

BROADWAY JOE: Duke men's lacrosse moves on to Final Four behind another Joe Robertson game-winner

By Evan Kolin | May 23, 2021

He did it again. Somehow, someway, he did it again. Mr. Overtime, Broadway Joe, whatever you want to call him. But at this point, Joe Robertson deserves a nickname.

Duke is favored against Loyola, but the Greyhounds are hot and riding a five-game win streak.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

Duke men's lacrosse to take on surging Loyola with Final Four berth on the line

By Evan Kolin | May 21, 2021

When the men’s lacrosse NCAA tournament bracket was announced May 9, it looked like No. 2-seed Duke was poised for a rematch against No. 7-seed Denver in the quarterfinals. But this is postseason lacrosse, where anything can happen.

The Blue Devils, while not error-free, are now moving on to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

'As a family': Buoyed by Michael Sowers, Duke men's lacrosse knocks off High Point in first round

By Sasha Richie | May 17, 2021

The mythical hydra: cut off one head and two more sprout in its place. The same could perhaps be said of Duke men’s lacrosse. Though far from a perfect game, the Blue Devils' first-round win against High Point was a clinic in proficiency at every position.

Attackman Michael Sowers was named one of five finalists for the Tewaaraton Award as college lacrosse's best player.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

Duke men's lacrosse set to begin NCAA tournament against much-improved High Point squad

By Evan Kolin | May 15, 2021

“This has got a one-goal game written all over it. This is an NCAA playoff game. And these kids for High Point have nothing to lose and are gonna play their best lacrosse of the year on Sunday, for sure.”

Duke will hear its NCAA tournament seed this upcoming Sunday at 9 p.m.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

Column: What to make of No. 2 Duke men's lacrosse after disappointing loss to No. 3 North Carolina

By Shane Smith | May 3, 2021

Expectations have been high for the star-studded Blue Devils all season long. And while the season has been a fairly successful one, it’s becoming evident that Duke is still trying to find its full potential.

Senior Cameron Mulé's score capped off a 6-0 Blue Devil run to end the game.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

Cameron Mulé's game-winner caps off miraculous comeback victory for Duke men's lacrosse

By Evan Kolin | April 23, 2021

Mulé had yet to step on the field Thursday night. But with the game on the line, his teammates trusted him to make a play. And he delivered.

Graduate student and team captain JT Giles-Harris is anchoring Duke's defense in his final season.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

The more you know: JT Giles-Harris is the key to Duke men's lacrosse's defensive success

By Sasha Richie | April 22, 2021

Giles-Harris is this week’s ACC Defensive Player of the Week as well as a member of the USILA Team of the Week.

For the second time this season, Joe Robertson clinched the game for the Blue Devils in sudden death overtime.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

Joe Robertson plays the role of hero again as Duke men's lacrosse takes down No. 3 Virginia

By Sasha Richie | April 16, 2021

Apparently when in overtime, get the ball to Joe Robertson and he’ll come in clutch.

Freshman faceoff specialist Jake Naso has been a surprise star for the Blue Devils this season.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

'It's been surreal': Jake Naso's improbable rise to stardom for Duke men's lacrosse

By Sasha Richie | April 14, 2021

The Blue Devils have found a secret weapon where they least expected it this season, and his name is Jake Naso.

Freshman Jake Naso dominated the faceoff game yet again, but it wasn't enough for the Blue Devils.

SPORTS | MEN'S LACROSSE

'We played scared': Duke men's lacrosse's perfect season ends with loss at Notre Dame

By Evan Kolin | April 12, 2021

Coming off two miraculous one-goal victories, it was clear that the Blue Devils were beatable, especially going into a matchup against yet another top-five opponent. But few could have predicted the beatdown that occurred Saturday afternoon.