No. 16 Virginia Downs No. 7 Duke, Halts 20-Game Regular-Season Series Skid

DURHAM, N.C. — For the first time since 2004, Virginia emerged victorious in a regular-season meeting against its archnemesis in the sport of lacrosse, the Duke Blue Devils. After trailing 6-5 at the intermission, the No. 16 Cavaliers (7-4, 2-0 ACC) outscored the seventh-ranked Blue Devils (8-2, 0-2) by five goals in the second half to win 14-10, tallying their fourth consecutive victory and second over a ranked opponent.

For the fourth straight game, UVA starting goaltender Jake Marek (6-3) dazzled in net, leading the Wahoos to victory. He recorded 13 saves – his fourth consecutive game with at least 10 – and outdueled Duke’s All-ACC netminder, Patrick Jamieson, in the process.

On offense, the Cavaliers were led by Joey Terenzi (3g, 2a), who finished with a career-high five points and recorded his first career hat trick after scoring the game’s final goal into an empty net with under a minute to play. Freshman attackman Brendan Millon (1g, 4a) also tied for a game-high five points, senior attackman Ryan Colsey (3g, 1a) contributed four points, and Truitt Sunderland found the back of the net on four of his five shots.

The Blue Devils, who imposed a 10-man ride for nearly the entire game, contributed to eight UVA failed clears. However, with Marek’s help, UVA’s defense was able to make up for its shortcomings in the clear. The Cavaliers held Duke to only one goal in the final nine minutes of play. Close defenseman Aidan Murnane came off the bench and contributed four caused turnovers. Additionally, UVA held Duke midfielder Benn Johnston – the ACC’s leading goal scorer entering Saturday’s contest – to only one goal and one assist.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cavaliers got off to a fast start as Andrew Greenspan (8-17 FO) won the game’s first two faceoffs, leading to back-to-back possessions that Terenzi and Sunderland converted into goals within the opening two minutes. However, three early failed clearsby UVA helped Duke tie the score 2-2 midway through the first. Coming out of a timeout, Terenzi quickly found Colsey (3g, 1a), who hammered home a step-down shot, marking his 25^th consecutive game with a goal, as UVA led 3-2 after the first 15 minutes. Marek tallied five saves in the opening period and showcased his grittiness after winning a race to the endline, chasing after a Duke shot that trickled wide.

Terenzi notched his third point on his second assist when his pass sliced through Duke’s defense and landed in Sunderland’s crosse. The score was tied two more times in the first half, but the Blue Devils scored back-to-back goals only 12 seconds apart to cling to a one-goal lead [6-5] at the break. UVA’s man-down unit killed a pair of penalties committed by close defenseman John Schroter, including a 1:00 foul for cross-checking.

Once again, the Hoos got off to a quick start to begin the second half with goals from Chase Band (1g) and Sunderland in the first 2:45. Brendan Millon scored or assisted on UVA’s next four goals, including one of which he fed Colsey, who buried his third goal of the afternoon, marking his eighth career hat trick. The Cavaliers grasped the largest lead by either team – at the time – when Hudson Hausmann’s strike in transition gave UVA a 10-7 lead heading into the fourth.

Duke would trim its deficit to as little as two [11-9] in the fourth. In a settled 6-on-6 possession with the shot clock winding down, the Blue Devils fired a shot that appeared to miss Marek and the cage, but after a discussion with the officials, was initially deemed to have contacted one of them. UVA head coach Lars Tiffany’s challenge was successful, resulting in only four seconds remaining on the shot clock – instead of a fresh 60. The Cavaliers outscored Duke 3-1 the rest of the way, and jubilation ensued when the horn sounded, marking the end of one of the sport’s most inexplicable win streaks.

WITH THE WIN...

• Virginia earned its first four-game win streak since tallying seven straight during the 2024 regular season.
• The Cavaliers snapped a six-game skid in the series with the Blue Devils, dating back to UVA's 13-12 overtime loss during the 2021 regular season. UVA's last win over Duke was in overtime at the 2019 NCAA semifinals.
• UVA ended a 22-year drought in regular-season games against Duke and snapped a 20-game skid in such contests.
• The Wahoos claimed their first victory at Koskinen Stadium since April 12, 2003, when they won, 11-8.
• UVA notched its second consecutive over a top-10 opponent, a first since 2024.
• The Cavaliers improved to 52-39 in the all-time series with Duke, which began in 1938.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Nine of Virginia's 14 goals were assisted. UVA entered Saturday's game No. 2 nationally with an average of 9.7 assists per game
• The Cavaliers are now 6-0 when recording more assists than their opponent.
• Senior attackman Ryan Colsey extended his goal streak to 25 games dating back to last year’s season opener, a span in which he’s totaled 53 goals.
• For the fourth consecutive game, UVA goalie Jake Marek (13 saves) finished with double-digit saves.
• The Blue Devils, who entered Saturday’s game as the nation’s leading in scoring offense with an average of 16.89 goals per game, were held to only 10 goals. That’s Duke’s second-lowest scoring output of the season.
• Duke goaltender Patrick Jamieson entered Saturday’s contest as the nation’s leader in goals-against average (6.90).
• UVA associate head coach and offensive coordinator Kevin Cassese returned to his alma mater, where he was twice team captain and Tewaaraton Award finalist (2002-03), a three-time All-American (2001-03), and the recipient of the Lt. j.g. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Outstanding Midfielder (2002). He was also ACC Player of the Year in 2001 and garnered All-ACC honors three times (2001-03).

UP NEXT
The Cavaliers play their second and final ACC road game at No. 3 Syracuse (9-3, 1-1 ACC) next Saturday (April 11). Opening faceoff from the JMA Wireless Dome is scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPNU.

The Orange fell 14-9 at No. 2 North Carolina (10-1, 1-0) Saturday afternoon. The loss snapped Cuse’s seven-game winning streak, which was the fourth-longest among all Division I teams entering Saturday.