Pitt
1-66-7; ACC
Duke
5-211-3; ACC
Pitt Drops Tight Conference Clash to No. 11 Duke
4/5/2025 3:26:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
PITTSBURGH – Pitt Lacrosse once again showed it's a much improved team from last year, but was unable to match the second half surge from No. 11 Duke, falling in the ACC contest 14-10.
The Panther grit was on display throughout the day at Highmark Stadium, and that began in the first quarter. Callie Hem scored the first Blue Devil goal and the first of her six to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Pitt countered with three goals in succession from Jenna Hendrickson, Talia Zuco and Kaitlyn Giandonato to establish a 3-1 edge. Duke got a late goal from Carly Bernstein with only 15 seconds remaining to bring the score to a 3-2 lead for the hosts.
Duke opened up a three-goal advantage thanks to the first four goals of the quarter, before the Panthers once again pushed back with a run of their own. Paige Telatovich netted one from the eight meter, Hendrickson scored her second with a nice feed by Emily Coughlin and Sydney Naylor cut around the offensive zone to score her 26th in 2025 to tie the game at six. Just like the first, the Blue Devils finished the period of play strongly, as Bernstein scored with less than two minutes to play to give Duke a 7-6 lead entering the break.
The Blue Devils utilized a 12-1 edge in the draw control battle in the second half to establish a lead that would not be relinquished. After the visitors scored the first in the third quarter, Giandonato scored thanks to a perfect pass by Naylor and Hendrickson completed a hat trick to tie the game one more time (8-8). From there, Duke scored three prior to another Telatovich tally that made the score 11-9 Blue Devils entering the fourth.
Giandonato finished off another hat trick, but Duke converted on three additional goals to close the game out and prohibit any chance of a Panther comeback. Goalie Molly Cain posted another double-digit save performance, with 10, for the seventh time this season. Pitt only turned the ball over 10 times and grabbed 11 ground balls to Duke's seven which enabled them to stay in contact throughout the contest.
Next up for the Panthers will be a short trip to Moon Township to take on the Robert Morris Colonials on April 9. The non-conference game is set for a 6 PM start.
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