Harvard Downs No. 12 Duke in Durham

Many programs dream of upsetting a highly ranked Duke team in March. Tonight, Harvard actually did it. The Crimson shocked the No. 12 Blue Devils in Durham, N.C. this evening, celebrating its spring break with a 14-12 win.

Earlier this month, Duke (6-4, 3-2 ACC) dominated Boston College, beating the women’s lacrosse powerhouse 17-6. Less than a week ago, the Crimson (2-5, 0-2 Ivy League) fell to the Eagles, 15-5. It appeared that this result led the Blue Devils to drastically underestimate the Harvard team today on Freeman Field.

Although the Crimson has struggled so far this season, it seemed to turn over a new leaf over spring break as it drew first blood against the talented Duke team.

Sophomore midfielder Tori Balser tallied the opening goal of the game. The visiting team quickly bolstered its advantage thanks to some momentum from its defense. When Duke’s well-rounded attack got the ball, the Crimson defenders smothered their cuts and made crucial checks on the Blue Devils’ eight-meter chances.

Earning possession by forcing a turnover, the Harvard squad zipped it down the field to its co-captain, Kate Gilliam. The senior from Glen Head, N.Y., marched toward the cage and fired a shot home, extending the Crimson’s lead to 2-0.

Freshman midfielder Lexie Koch then snagged Harvard’s third draw control of the evening, but Duke’s aggressive ride was able to force a turnover of its own. Luckily for the visiting team, sophomore goaltender Emma Barkauskas came up with a huge save to keep Duke off the scoreboard.

On the following slow break, Gilliam struck again for the Crimson, cutting perfectly through the fan to collect a feed from X.

Unfortunately for the Harvard team, quick yellow cards were issued to captain Despina Giannakopoulos and senior midfielder Charlotte Hodgson, putting the Crimson at a two-player disadvantage.

Duke quickly capitalized on the opportunity, dunking a quick stick goal past Barkauskas. Then, the Blue Devils tallied their second of the day, catching a stellar cross-crease feed and closing the deficit to one.

Although Harvard was briefly able to regain possession, a bad pass on a clear dropped straight into a Duke stick. The Blue Devils pushed the ball upfield and, catching the Crimson’s defense unprepared, quickly deadlocked the score at 3-3.

Harvard’s head coach, Devon Wills, called a timeout, hoping to end Duke’s offensive onslaught.

Gilliam continued her scoring streak in the second quarter, securing a hat trick and regaining the lead for her team.

The Blue Devils snagged the following draw, but the Crimson’s ride forced a turnover and got the ball back in Gilliam’s hot hands. The captain ripped a shot from the top of the fan, notching her fourth goal of the game.

Duke responded with a rapid give-and-go goal, but could not slow down Harvard on the offensive end of the field.

Gilliam drew a double team, but dumped the ball to freshman midfielder Cece Batchelder, who hammered a shot home.

Batchelder’s older sister, junior attacker Callie Batchelder, then tallied one of her own off a free position shot to make it 7-4.

Duke, refusing to wrap up the half quietly, stormed down the field on a fast break, bringing the score to 7-5.

After halftime, Harvard’s strong start continued, as Gilliam recorded her fifth goal of the day.

However, penalties continued to plague the Crimson team during the third quarter, as the Blue Devils proved incredibly capable of capitalizing on player-up advantages. Duke also seriously hassled Harvard players during the clear with its fierce ride, enabling it to build some momentum.

Junior midfield Grace Mullahy then lit up the Blue Devils’ defense. The junior dodged so hard her defender fell to the ground, and then she scored to make it 9-5.

Duke’s coaching staff called a timeout, which proved effective.

The Blue Devils’ ride was successful yet again, rapidly turning defense into offense as redshirt junior Ava Biancardi scored her third goal of the game to narrow the gap to 9-6.

Two more quick goals by Duke brought the score within one, forcing Wills to burn another timeout.

Cece Batchelder earned a free position shot, but the Crimson’s bench was cited with a misconduct call, continuing its penalty problems. The resulting player deficit enabled Duke to knot the score at 9, as it scored off a shot from the elbow.

Callie Batchelder quickly answered, scooping up an offensive rebound and dangling through defenders before ripping a sidearm shot.

Harvard boasted a 10-9 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Blue Devils evened it early in the final frame, refusing to fall without a fight.

Duke won the following draw, but Barkauskas made a crucial save on a low shot.

Unfortunately, on the other side of the field, the Blue Devils’ goaltender followed suit, making a point-blank save on a shot by Mullahy.

While Duke’s ride continued to pester Harvard, the Blue Devils seemed to move the ball upfield with comparative ease, as it cleared the ball and took its first lead of the game.

Duke continued to win the contest in the circle, bringing down another draw control. However, the Crimson’s defensive unit forced a turnover, enabling Hodgson to scoop up a ground ball and transition to offense.

It looked as though the Blue Devils were going to force a Harvard shot clock violation, but Hodgson converted in the final dwindling seconds, evening the score at 11.

Koch then came up big with a draw control for the Crimson. Four Duke defenders clamped onto the rookie, looking to frazzle her and force a turnover. However, Koch got the ball to sophomore Hayla Dora, who expertly dished it to Cece Batchelder.

Since all the Blue Devils had crashed to cover the midfielders, Cece Batchelder was left alone with Duke’s goaltender. The rookie deftly slipped the ball into the net to make it 12-11.

The Blue Devils were able to answer and deadlock the score at 12, but a yellow card on the next draw put Harvard on the advantage.

After working it around the fan, Mullahy dished the ball to Callie Batchelder, who secured a hat trick.

On the defensive end, a stellar check by Blaser regained possession for the Crimson. Hodgson then tallied her second goal of the day, extending Harvard’s lead to 14-12.

Although Duke continued to put excellent pressure on the Crimson’s ball handlers, it proved too little too late. When the Blue Devils fumbled a pass in their defensive zone and handed the ball back to Harvard, it was clear that the visitors were going to secure the upset win.

The Crimson bench erupted into cheers when the final buzzer rang, celebrating its second victory of the season and its first over a ranked opponent.

The team has a full week to prepare for its next game, which it will host against the Holy Cross Crusaders at Jordan Field in Cambridge, Mass. Then, Harvard will ring in its 50th Anniversary with a celebratory game against Brown on Saturday, March 28. Hundreds of Crimson women’s lacrosse alums will be making their return to campus to celebrate the program’s past 50 years, which have been marked with many notable successes, including 12 Ivy League Championships and a National Championship in 1990.

— Staff writer Isabel C. Smail can be reached at [email protected].