The fifth seeded Duke Blue Devils take on the first seeded Virginia Cavaliers in the second game on the night at M&T Bank Stadium. It is the 72nd time these two schools have met and the third time this season. The teams split the regular season series. The Cavaliers own a 49-22 series lead. Duke had won eight consecutive games until the Cavaliers beat Duke in the ACC Semi-Finals this year with a score of 16-12. Duke comes into the game with a (14-4) season record. Leading the way for the Blue Devils is the three headed monster of Ned Crotty, Max Quinzoni and Zach Howell. Ned Crotty is a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy for the nation’s best player. On the other side Virginia comes in with a (16-1) record. The Cavaliers are led by their own Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, Defenseman Ken Clausen. He will look to hold this explosive Duke offense. The Cavaliers offense will be led by their own trio of players Shamel Bratton, Chris Bocklet and Steele Stanwick.

A sloppy start to the game marred by turnovers and penalties the Cavaliers jumped out to an early one goal lead scored by Chris Bocklet, assisted by Steele Stanwick. Duke’s So. Midfielder Rob Rotanz scores his first goal of the game tying the score at 1-1. Virginia would score the next two goals both by Steele Stanwick giving the Cavaliers a two goal lead with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Duke’s Justin Turri scores his first of the game making it a one goal game with three minutes remaining. Shamel Bratton would answer with six seconds remaining to put the Cavaliers up 2-4 going into the second quarter.

Duke Attackman Parker McKee scores his first of the game on an extra-man goal cutting the deficit 3-4 Cavaliers with fourteen minutes to go in the second period. Chris Bocklet scores his second on the game giving the Cavaliers a 5-3 lead. Duke would finish out the half scoring on a pair of goals by Justin Turri and Will McKee, both collecting their second goals of the game. Virginia would still take a two goal lead into halftime leading 7-5.

Coming out of the half the Cavaliers would pick up right where they left off scoring his third goal of the game Chris Bocklet from Rhamel Bratton. Duke would score the next four goals in the quarter, two by Max Quinzani and one by Ned Crotty and Zach Howell to take a 9-8 lead into the fourth quarter.

Duke would come out and dominate the beginning of the fourth quarter on goals by Defenseman CJ Costabile and goals by Justin Turri and Max Quinzoni, both scoring their third goals on the game and giving the Blue Devils a 12-8 lead with twelve minutes to play. Cavalier Attackman Rhamel Bratton ended a sixteen minute scoring drought by the Cavaliers, cutting into the Duke lead now only up 12-9 with over eight minutes to go in the game. The track meet that we thought this game would be would explode in the last half of the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers would rattle off three goals by Rhamel Bratton, Chris Bocklet and Brian Carroll to cut the Blue Devil lead to one goal with four minutes to go in the game. The goals scored would be the second for Carroll and the fourth for Bocklet. Duke’s Zach Howell would answer back with his second goal in the game to put the Blue Devils back up by two goals. The Virginia Cavaliers not wanting to see this season end score two quick goals by Stanwick and Carroll. Both scores giving them their third goal on the day and tie the game up at 13-13. Duke Attackman Max Quinzoni with twelve seconds to go in the game scores his fourth goal on the game assisted by Ned Crotty his second assist and fourth point on the day. Virginia would end the game with an offside penalty giving the ball back to Duke to run the clock out. This is the second time since 1973 the two teams that have not won a championship will meet in the finals of the NCAA. We will have a new NCAA Champion this year when Notre Dame and Duke meet on Memorial Day at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Story by Bryan Bartram