News Summary
The Duke University women’s lacrosse team secured a narrow victory over East Carolina, winning 14-13 on March 24, 2025. This win improves their season record to 8-3, showcasing contributions from various players, including Carly Bernstein and Bella Goodwin, each with three goals. Coach Kerstin Kimel celebrated her 357th career victory. With strong offensive stats and a critical focus on defense, the team is preparing for their next matchup against Virginia Tech on March 29, aiming to maintain their competitive momentum.
Durham, NC – The Duke University women’s lacrosse team edged out East Carolina in a tightly contested match, winning 14-13 on March 24, 2025. This victory pushes Duke’s season record to 8-3, reinforcing their competitive standing in the league.
Seniors and sophomores alike played crucial roles in the match, with Carly Bernstein and Bella Goodwin each scoring three goals. In a display of teamwork, a total of eight different players contributed to the scoring for Duke, highlighting the team’s depth and collaborative effort on the field. However, the game took a dramatic turn in the fourth quarter when East Carolina managed to score six goals, demonstrating their resilience and ensuring the match remained thrilling until the final whistle.
Duke’s head coach, Kerstin Kimel, celebrated a significant milestone with this win, marking her 357th career victory. This achievement places her sixth among active Division I coaches. Earlier this season, she celebrated her 350th win with a victory against Xavier on March 2, reinforcing her lengthy and successful coaching career at Duke.
Throughout the season, Duke has shown offensive prowess, scoring a total of 131 goals. Notably, Bella Goodwin leads the team with 38 points, while Callie Hem and Carly Bernstein follow closely, each with 35 points. Hem has scored 31 goals this season, ranking sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for goals per game at 3.11. Additionally, Eva Pronti has emerged as a key playmaker, currently ranking fourth in the ACC for assists per game, averaging 2.50.
As defensive strategies are just as critical as offensive plays, Kennedy Everson stands out with 195 career saves, having made 76 saves during the current season. Meanwhile, the Duke defense has forced 98 turnovers, with Amanda Paci leading the team with 20 turnovers, closely followed by Madison Beale with 16. The Blue Devils have also demonstrated efficiency in their gameplay with a clear percentage of .891 and an average of 8.40 assists per game, ranking them sixth in Division I women’s lacrosse.
For draw controls, Kerry Nease has established herself as a strong performer, accumulating 52 draw controls this season, which places her fifth in the ACC with an average of 5.20 per game. This aspect of gameplay is critical as possession often determines the outcomes of tightly contested matches, such as the one against East Carolina.
Duke’s previous encounter with East Carolina was another closely fought battle, resulting in a 14-12 victory. Following the game, Coach Kimel acknowledged the necessity for improvement in defensive plays, indicating an awareness of areas in need of development as they progress through the season.
The Blue Devils are gearing up to face off against Virginia Tech in their next matchup scheduled for March 29, 2025. As the season unfolds, Duke will aim to address any defensive shortcomings while building upon their impressive offensive capabilities to maintain momentum in their pursuit of success.
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Additional Resources
- East Carolina Pirates News
- Duke Women’s Lacrosse News
- Duke Chronicle – Game Recap
- North Carolina Tar Heels News
- Duke Outlasts East Carolina
- Wikipedia: Women’s Lacrosse
- Google Search: East Carolina Lacrosse News
- Google Scholar: Women’s Lacrosse in NCAA
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Lacrosse
- Google News: Duke Women’s Lacrosse
