March 6, 2003

Stats

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland women's lacrosse team kept its 2003 turnaround in tact as it handed second-ranked Duke a 9-8 overtime loss at the UM Artificial Turf Facility. The Terrapins -- who started last season 1-2 and 0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference -- handed Duke (3-1, 0-1 ACC) their first loss of the season while moving to 3-0 overall (2-0 in conference).

In the win, the fourth-ranked Terps overcame a first half that saw them playing from behind to a Duke team that seemed to be in control before ultimately moving on and playing a strong second half and overtime period. In that first half, Duke opened the game with a pair of goals by Katie Chrest before the teams would trade single goals en route to an early 3-1 Blue Devil lead. It was the first time this season that the Terps did not open the game with a scoring burst and was, in fact, the first time Maryland had trailed this season.

The Terrapins, however, would run off the game's next three goals to take the lead with sophomore Acacia Walker netting a pair in the mini-run. Duke would answer with three of its own before junior Kelly Coppedge scored at the 25:49 mark, the final goal of the first half, cutting the Duke advantage to 6-5. Duke outshot the Terrapins 18-9 in the frame but four of its six first-half goals came on free position shots.

The second half began with a totally different feel with Maryland controlling the draws and play. The Terrapins ran off four unanswered goals in the half's first seven minutes with three coming from Coppedge. Duke's Cheryl Lynn Horton answered with a goal of her own at the 46:07 mark and neither team scored for the next 19-plus minutes as the Terrapins held on to a 8-7 lead.

With 4:49 left in regulation, it was Maryland native Katie Chrest again, taking a feed from Katie Laschinger to tie the score. Both teams would have their chances in the game's final minutes but neither could convert and the game went to overtime. In the first overtime frame, it was Walker again for Maryland, finishing on a run in from the eight-meter to give the Terps the lead with 1:51 remaining in that first extra frame. Less than a minute later, the Blue Devils had their best chance at tying the game as Chrest was awarded a free position shot, but senior goalie Alexis Venechanos came up with her first of two huge overtime stops. The teams would switch sides and Maryland successfully held the ball away from the Blue Devils for much of the period with Venechanos again making a huge save on the loan Duke shot, this time stopping Lauren Gallagher's attempt with 1:11 remaining.

Play closed with the Terps successfully killing the clock in their offensive end with Duke's hopes of its first multiple-game win streak against Maryland falling short. The Terrapins now lead the all-time series between the two schools, 8-2.

Walker led all scorers with five points (three goals, two assists) while Coppedge finished with four goals. Freshman Delia Cox and senior Sonia Judd each added a goal while Venechanos finished with 12 saves overall. As a team, draw controls were a big part of the Terp turnaround as they owned a 14-7 advantage including all three draws of the overtime frames.

The Terps will return to action this Saturday as they will square off with No. 7 Syracuse at the artificial turf field. Opening draw is slated for 1:00 p.m.