The Duke women's lacrosse team fell to North Carolina 15-11 in the ACC Championship quarterfinals despite a strong fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring their opponents 5-2. Redshirt junior Ava Biancardi led Duke with four goals and an assist, while contributions also came from Bella Goodwin and Maddie MacDonald. The Blue Devils struggled early, with North Carolina securing a strong lead, but made a late push to narrow the gap. Duke ends the season with a 9-8 record as they prepare to learn about their NCAA Tournament prospects.

By the Numbers
  • Duke scored 5 goals in the fourth quarter compared to North Carolina's 2.
  • Ava Biancardi recorded 4 goals and 1 assist, marking her 10th hat trick of the season.
  • Duke鈥檚 junior Ellie White reached 267 career draw controls, ranking 3rd all-time at Duke.
Yes, But

Duke's aggressive late-game effort highlights their resilience, yet it underscores their difficulties in maintaining consistency throughout the match. The overall performance raises questions about their ability to compete against top-ranked teams consistently.

State of Play
  • Duke finishes the year at 9-8, battling through various ups and downs throughout the season.
  • North Carolina improves to 14-1 and leads the all-time series against Duke 32-14.
  • Duke remains winless in its last five attempts in ACC Championship quarterfinals.
What's Next

Duke will await their NCAA Tournament fate, with selections announced on Sunday, May 3, at 9 p.m. on ESPNU. Their performance in the ACC Championship may impact their seeding or placement in the tournament.

Bottom Line

Duke's narrow exit from the ACC Tournament exposes both the team's competitive spirit and the need for greater consistency in future matches, especially as they hope for a favorable NCAA Tournament invitation.