Where do we even start?
There were 50 games on the docket Saturday — by far the busiest single day of the season to date — and with so much action, there were certainly some surprises.
Let’s dive in.
JENNER DOWNS BOSTON COLLEGE
Perhaps it’s time to stop pestering Duke for what has been perceived as a “soft” schedule.
The No. 9 Blue Devils hosted No. 2 Boston College on Saturday and blitzed the Eagles early, taking a six-goal lead with just a few minutes into the third quarter. The BC offense came alive to tie the score with 2:40 remaining in the contest, but Caroline DeBellis found Maddie Jenner with 1:21 left for the game-winning goal. Duke didn’t allow a shot in the remaining time to hold on for a thrilling 16-15 win.
Jenner had two goals, one assist and 12 draw controls. Duke distributed the ball evenly, with five players — Jenner, Eva Greco, Abby Landry, Catriona Barry and Anna Callahan — all notching three points. Duke held a 20-14 advantage on draws.
Duke (15-1, 6-1 ACC) withstood a nine-point (three goals, six assists) effort from Belle Smith and held Charlotte North to two goals and one draw control.
It was a 6-3 Duke lead after the first quarter and 11-7 at halftime. Duke extended the lead to 13-7 when Greco found Katie DeSimone for her 52nd tally of the spring.
Boston College (13-2, 5-2 ACC) then found its rhythm, going on an 8-2 run in the next 25 minutes, tying the score at 15 when Kayla Martello scored consecutive goals. Both were assisted by Smith.
But even though Duke bent, it didn’t break.
UCONN SURVIVES AGAINST VILLANOVA
Villanova might have dominated the fourth quarter, but No. 17 UConn was able to hold on for a 16-15 win in Storrs, Conn., with Susan Lafountain’s goal with 2:33 remaining serving as the de facto winner.
The Huskies led 13-8 at the end of the third quarter before a 6-2 Nova run put the Wildcats down 15-14. With 2:33 left, Lia LaPrise fed Lafountain for a two-goal cushion that was enough to survive Olivia Piccirili’s goal for Villanova with 1:49 left.
Fresh off a back-and-forth one-goal loss to Denver, UConn (11-2, 2-1 Big East) got three goals and two assists from LaPrise and four goals and one assist from Sydney Watson. Villanova (4-10, 0-2 Big East) was led by Sydney Pappas’ four goals.
MICHIGAN ENDS SKID
Losers of four straight, Michigan’s once-promising spring had been spiraling downward. And while Saturday’s 8-7 overtime win over Penn State isn’t a cure-all, it will certainly help in getting the Wolverines back on the right track.
The sides traded the final five goals of regulation, with Penn State’s Kristin O’Neill scoring the equalizer with 8:45 left in the fourth quarter. Caitlin Muir found Jill Smith in overtime for the win.
Annabelle Burke, Julia Schwabe and Kaley Thompson each scored twice for the Wolverines, who got 13 saves from Arielle Weissman. O’Neill had three goals and one assist for Penn State (6-7, 0-4 Big Ten).
No. 19 Michigan (10-5, 2-3 Big Ten) has scored double-digit goals just once in the past eight games.