By Catherine Cypher
Heights Staff
The Boston College women's lacrosse team traveled to North Carolina Saturday looking to challenge a Duke team mired in a four-game losing streak and battling for position in the ACC.
The Blue Devils, however, came out strong and were consistent throughout the game, sending the Eagles home on the losing end of a 16-6 score.
Duke wasted no time in getting on the board, with Sarah Bullard scoring on a free- position shot 27 seconds into the game.
The Blue Devils quickly made the score 2-0 at 1:03 before Boston College was able to answer. Eagles midfielder Lauren Fitzpatrick pulled the Eagles within one with her own free- position shot at the 2:25 mark.
That was the closest BC would get all day. Duke responded in dominant fashion, scoring 10 straight goals to have a 12-1 lead by the 27-minute mark of the second half.
The Eagles had the most trouble controlling Duke's Carolyn Davis and Danielle Kachulis. The pair each had five goals in the game, with Davis controlling the first half and Kachulis the second.
Duke controlled every aspect of the game, outshooting the Eagles 20-8 and gaining a 12-8 advantage on ground balls in the first 30 minutes.
The second half began similarly to the first, with Duke scoring twice before Fitzpatrick netted her second goal of the day.
After Duke scored three more times, Blue Devils coach Kerstin Kimel took most of her starters out of the game. With the score at 15-2 in favor of Duke with 19:16 to play, BC's Sarah Sedgwick and Jenna McCabe scored for the Eagles.
After another Duke goal, Hannah Alley scored her first career collegiate goal with six minutes to play. Lauren Costello rounded out the scoring for the Eagles and for the game with her goal with 3:44 to play.
BC had trouble controlling the ball, committing 20 turnovers.
Only 12 of these were forced by the Duke defense. The Blue Devils' defense was relentless on clears, only allowing BC to convert on eight out of 15 opportunities. Duke finished the game with big advantages on the stat sheet, including shots taken - 32 to BC's 17 - and ground balls, picking up four more than the Eagles.
Though this game dropped the Eagles to 2-3 in the ACC and 4-8 overall, there were a few bright spots for BC. Although Duke was able to run up the score, Eagles goaltender Katie Monaghan played the whole game and made 13 saves.
The contest against the Blue Devils also saw Fitzpatrick extend her scoring streak to 12 games. McCabe kept alive a streak of her own - she has scored a point in all 12 games this season.
The Eagles, with only two games left in the regular season, will attempt to focus on these positives and finish the season on a high note.
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