Elon WLAX Phoenix Drops Tough Contest to #8 Duke

ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s lacrosse team played host to its first-ever top-25 opponent on Saturday, Feb. 7, as the Phoenix dropped a 17-8 contest to the eighth-ranked Duke Blue Devils from Rhodes Stadium.

Elon (1-1) got two goals each from Stephanie Asher, Sloane Kessler and Molly Garrigan on the afternoon. Kessler added both assists for the maroon and gold as Elon out-scored Duke (1-0) 6-5 in the second half of play. In goal, Rachel Ramirez tallied a game-high 12 saves.

The Blue Devils offensive attack was led by three-goal outings from Taylor Trimble and Katie Tress. Trimble also assisted on three scores.

Duke, which downed Elon 25-4 in the Phoenix’s first-ever lacrosse match exactly one year ago, scored the first thee goals of the game before Garrigan put home a man-up, free-position shot to get Elon on the board.

Nicole Sinacori’s goal with 6:27 left in the first half was Elon’s only other tally of the first period as the Phoenix trailed 12-2 at intermission.

The Phoenix came out strong in the second half as Lane Huger scored the first goal of the stanza on a Kessler assist. With Duke up 14-3, Asher scored her first of the game.

After a free-position goal by Duke, Elon got back-to-back goals from Garrigan and Kessler to trim its deficit to 15-6 with just over 6:30 to play. The two sides then took turns scoring the final four goals of the match, the last by Kessler on a free-position shot with 2:09 to play.

Duke won 18 draw controls to Elon’s nine on the day and the Blue Devils out-shot the Phoenix 37-16 overall. Duke goalie Kelsey Duryea earned the win after allowing six goals and making three saves in 54:03 of work.

Elon will begin a four-match road swing next Saturday, Feb. 14, at Longwood. Game time is set for 1 p.m.