Hokies hit the road for ACC tilt at Duke Saturday

Tech to play first of three consecutive matches on the road

March 3, 2017

	1	2	F
Virginia Tech (7-2 (2-0 ACC))	5	6	11
(9) Duke (4-2 (0-2 ACC))	1	5	6
Koskinen Stadium - 402 Box Score

BLACKSBURG- The Virginia Tech lacrosse team travels to Durham, N.C. for a 1 p.m. match against the No. 10 Duke Blue Devils on Saturday. It is the Hokies’ second conference matchup, the first, being a 18-12 victory over No. 17 Boston College at the Indoor Practice Facility.

The Hokies (6-2, 1-0)
Tech enters the game after a narrow defeat to Elon on Wednesday. In an overtime thriller, the Phoenix were able to score a man-up goal in the extra period to beat the Hokies. Tech trailed by four midway through the second half, but used a late run to come back into the game, capped by Kristine Loscalzo’s free position goal with four seconds remaining to tie the game at 12.

The Hokies boast a prolific offense that ranks third in the conference at 16.00 goals per game entering this week. Tristan McGinley, Zan Biedenharn and Loscalzo all have 20 or more goals through the first eight games of the season. The team also features a stout defense that is first in the ACC and fourth in the country, allowing just 6.14 goals against per game.

The Blue Devils (4-1, 0-1)
Duke lost its last time out to No. 9 Notre Dame on Sunday. A game Duke led 6-3 at halftime, ended 12-11 in favor of the Irish. Olivia Jenner led Duke with seven points in the game with four goals and adding three assists.

The Blue Devils received two honors this week as Maddie Crutchfield was awarded the ACC Offensive Player of the Week and teammate Maura Schwitter won Defensive Player of the Week.

Crutchfield is one of Duke’s leading scorers with 13 points on the year. Other dangerous players in the attack are Kyra Harney (18 points), and Jenner (16 points).

The Series
Virginia Tech has never beaten Duke in 19 previous attempts. Last season in Blacksburg, Duke came out on top in a 13-4 game at Thompson Field. Loscalzo and Biedenharn each netted one goal in that match. Tech is 0-10 all-time when facing Duke on the road.

Next up: The Hokies travel to George Mason University for a 6 p.m. match against the Patriots on Wednesday. Tech is 5-10 against Mason and 2-6 in games played in Fairfax, Va.

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