By Adam Lindner | Sports Editor
Feb. 22, 2018
On a snowy Saturday afternoon on the Bluff, the Duquesne women’s lacrosse team opened its 2017-18 regular season campaign with a close 10-9 loss versus area foe Robert Morris on Feb. 17.
Knotted up at 7-7 with just under eight minutes left to play, junior midfielder Sarah Kollhoff netted two straight Duquesne goals to give the Dukes a 9-7 lead with just over six minutes left in regulation.
However, Robert Morris responded with three unanswered goals to take the contest, 10-9.
Neither team led by more than two goals at any given point in the game.
For the Dukes, Kollhoff and senior attacker Jill Vacanti both recorded hat tricks, and freshman midfielder Carlee Braverman scored two goals in her collegiate debut.
Freshman attacker Michaela Connolly had a pair of assists in her Duquesne debut as well.
Junior attacker Haley Matthai had one goal for Duquesne to round out the afternoon’s scoring for the Dukes.
Following the Robert Morris contest, Duquesne traveled to Penn State on Feb. 21, where it fell to the No. 12 Nittany Lions, 19-8.
The Nittany Lions, who have made two straight NCAA Final Four appearances, were hot out of the gate, jumping to a quick 6-0 lead before the Dukes scored three of the game’s next four goals, rendering the score 7-3.
Penn State scored the game’s next four goals, however, eventually taking a 13-5 lead into the halftime break.
Duquesne allowed three consecutive Nittany Lion goals following halftime, but the teams played an even game from that point forward, ending in a 19-8 Penn State victory.
Sophomore midfielder Kirsten Barnes recorded her first career hat trick for Duquesne to go along with one assist, as fellow sophomore midfielder Maddie Hart contributed two goals of her own for the Dukes.
Sophomore goaltender Maddy Curtis made five saves and allowed two goals in 22 minutes of relief action to close out the game for Duquesne.
Next, Duquesne will face the MAAC’s Niagara Purple Eagles (1-0) in a non-conference contest on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. at Arthur J. Rooney Field.
The Dukes will hit the road again on Thursday, Mar. 1, when they face Saint Francis (Pa.).
