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DURHAM, N.C. – The No. 5 Virginia women’s lacrosse team scored the first goal of the day, and despite three tie scores throughout the game, held off the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils Saturday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium, en route to an 8-7 victory. The outcome marked the sixth-straight year, and 12th time in the 15 year regular season series history, that the road team came away victorious.

Three Cavaliers notched two scores for Virginia – senior All-American Brittany Kalkstein, sophomore Julie Gardner and freshman Caroline McTiernan – while sophomore Charlie Finnigan recorded a goal and an assist. Senior Caity Whiteley rounded out the scoring with one goal.

For Duke (9-2), three Blue Devils recorded two scores – Sarah Bullard, Lindsay Gilbride and Kim Wenger.

Virginia’s defense was the first to be tested, but anchored by three saves by redshirt junior Lauren Benner, the Cavaliers’ offense was the first to score. Gardner converted a free position shot at 26:24 to give Virginia the 1-0 lead.

Twenty four seconds later, the Blue Devils broke through and knotted the score at one all.

The Cavaliers wouldn’t allowed Duke to take a lead though, as Finnigan scored on an 8-meter shot at 21:28 and Kalkstein followed that up with a goal at 17:25.

Duke rallied to answer with back-to-back scores, before McTiernan – making her first collegiate start – made the score 4-3 with 9:31 remaining in the half.

An unassisted goal by the Blue Devils at 7:24 tied the game for a third time, but goals from Gardner and a second from McTiernan gave the Cavaliers a two-goal cushion at halftime, 6-4.

Whiteley scored out of the break, giving Virginia its largest lead of the game, 7-4, before the Blue Devils sandwiched goals around a second score from Kalkstein, bringing the score to 8-6 with 8:03 to play.

Duke scored again with 3:37 to play and won the ensuing draw control, but junior Liz Downs forced a turnover with 1:45 remaining and the Cavaliers ran out the clock to preserve the 8-7 victory.

Kalkstein won three draw controls for Virginia, while senior All-American Kaitlin Duff and Benner each had three ground balls. Benner finished with seven saves on the day and sophomore Bailey Fogarty caused a career-high five turnovers.

Virginia (7-3) will be back in action on Wednesday, as the Cavaliers return home to host Old Dominion. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Klöckner Stadium.

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