DURHAM, N.C. (3/18/08)—The top-ranked Duke University Blue Devils scored seven unanswered goals over the course of the first two quarters to earn a 15-7 victory over Colgate in non-conference men’s lacrosse action. Juniors Nick Monastero (Bohemia, N.Y.) and Brandon Corp (Chittenango, N.Y.) led the Raiders with two goals apiece.

 

The Raiders fall to 4-3 overall on the season, while No. 1 Duke remains perfect at 8-0. The eight-goal differential is the smallest margin of victory for the Blue Devils this season.

 

Monastero finished the night with a team-high three points from two goals and an assist. Corp registered two goals and sophomore Ryan McClelland (Brampton, Ontario) tallied his first career goal in the loss.

 

Duke’s Matt Danowski led all scorers with four goals and an assist, while Zack Greer matched the five points with two goals and three assists. Brad Ross also tallied three goals for the Blue Devils.

 

Colgate drew a slashing penalty just 13 seconds into the game to earn a man-up opportunity in the opening minute. The Raiders set up the extra-man offense and 28 seconds later, Monastero tallied his third goal of the season to give Colgate the 1-0 lead at the 14:19 mark of the first quarter. Senior Matt Lalli (Princeton Junction, N.J.) provided the assist.

 

Ross tied the score for Duke 1:22 later on an unassisted tally that sparked the Blue Devils’ 7-0 run over the next 27:03. Danowski put Duke in front at the 8:20 mark of the first session and the Blue Devils added three more goals in the final 6:45 for a 5-1 lead after one quarter.

 

Max Quinzani and Danowski added two more to start the second quarter and held the Raiders scoreless until sophomore Ian Murphy (Constantia, N.Y.) scored another man-up goal to make it 7-2 at the half.

 

The Blue Devils had a 36-9 advantage in shots in the first 30 minutes of the game.

 

The scoring picked up in the third quarter as the two squads combined for nine goals. Danowski opened the scoring at the 11:58 mark to make it an 8-2 game. Less than a minute later, the Raiders took advantage of Duke penalty again, getting its third man-up goal of the game. Lalli provided Corp with the pass and Crop found the back of the cage for the first time to pull Colgate within five goals.

 

That would be as close as the Raiders would get as Duke outscored Colgate 6-1 in the final 10 minutes of the third quarter.

 

Colgate won the fourth quarter 3-1, getting goals from McClelland, Corp, and Monastero. But it was too little, too late as Duke remained unbeaten on the season.

 

Senior Chris Eck (Fairfield, Conn.) went 9-of-21 at the faceoff “X” and picked up three groundballs. Junior Will Planer (Rumson, N.J.) led the Raiders with five groundballs.

 

In goal, sophomore Tim Harrington (Lutherville, Md.) made 16 saves for the Raiders, including 11 in the first half. Dan Loftus and Rob Schroeder combined for nine saves.

 

Colgate kept the top-ranked man-up offense off the scoreboard, holding the Blue Devils 0-for-4 on the extra man. Duke outshot the Raiders 58-21 and won the groundball battle 45-25. The Blue Devils had a narrow 14-12 edge in faceoff wins. Colgate went 4-for-7 on extra-man opportunities.

 

The Raiders resume Patriot League play on March 23, hosting defending champion Navy. Colgate and the Midshipmen will face off at 12 p.m., at Andy Kerr Stadium. The game will be televised live by CSTV.