May 15, 2010

Box Score

DURHAM, NC - Fifth-seeded Duke got four goals from senior Max Quinzani and two goals and six assists from fifth-year senior Ned Crotty and used a 12-0 run that bridged the second and fourth quarters to race past visiting Johns Hopkins, 18-5, in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament. The win improves Duke's record to 13-4 and moves the Devils into next week's quarterfinals against the winner of North Carolina-Delaware game. Johns Hopkins finishes the season at 7-8.

The Blue Devils led 5-2 after back-to-back goals in an 11-second span late in the first quarter, but sophomore Tom Palasek wrapped a pair of goals around a Robert Rotanz goal for the Devils to make it 6-4 with 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter. By the time the Blue Jays scored again with 7:29 remaining in the fourth quarter, Duke had pushed the lead out to 18-4.

Quinzani jumped-started the 12-0 run with a pair of goals in the final 5:17 of the first half and Zach Howell, Mike Catalino and Steve Schoeffel each scored before the third quarter was five minutes old to extend the lead to 11-4. From there, Crotty would add both of his goals in the game and two more assists and Schoeffel, Catalino and Quinzani would add additional markers to fuel the win.

The Blue Jays finally halted the run with an extra-man goal by senior Nate Mattews midway through the fourth quarter and neither team scored after that to account for the 18-5 final score.

Duke got back-to-back goals in a 37-span early in the game to jump to a quick 2-0 lead. Schoeffel opened the scoring when he drove hard to the goal and beat Blue Jay goalie Pierce Bassett down low and Sam Payton netted his only goal of the game 37 seconds later when Crotty found him alone in front with time and room and he fired one inside the far post.

Senior Steven Boyle sandwiched a pair of goals around a Quinzani goal midway through the period to make it 3-2, but Tom Montelli and Howell scored in an 11-second span to make it 5-2.

Palasek's two goals bridged the first and second quarters, but Quinzani's back-to-back goals ignited the 12-0 run for the Devils, who advance to the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year.

Crotty led the Blue Devils with his eight-point showing, while Quinzani added an assist to go along with his four goals. Schoeffel chipped in with a three-goal, one-assist effort as Duke's starting attack and first midfield combined for 12 goals and 12 assists. Payton fueled Duke's dominance on faceoffs as he won 14-of-19 and grabbed seven ground balls to go along with his one goal.

Boyle and Palasek led the Blue Jays with two goals and one assist each and Bassett finished with nine saves, but the Blue Jays trailed in shots (40-15) and ground balls (37-17) and won just 9-of-27 faceoffs in having their 19-year run of quarterfinal appearances snapped.

#14 Johns Hopkins (7-8)3-1-0-1/5

#5 Duke (13-4) 5-3-8-2/18

Goals: J: Palasek-2, Boyle-2, Matthews. D: Quinzani-4, Schoeffel-3, Crotty-2, Howell-2, Catalino-2, Rotanz, Payton, Livadas, Montelli, Coyle. Assists: J: Boyle, Palasek. D: Crotty-6, Turri-2, Howell, McKee, Quinzani, Rotanz, Schoeffel. Saves: J: Bassett-9, Burke-1 D: Rock-2, Sherwood-1, Wigrizer-0. Shots: J-15. D-40. EMO: J: 1-for-3. D: 1-for-2. Attendance: 1,513.

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