(Photo Courtesy of Duke Athletics)
In the 80th meeting between Duke and North Carolina, it was the Blue Devil’s biggest stars who shined the brightest.
Duke’s Dyson Williams (5G) and Brennan O’Neill (1G/4A) combined for 10 points to help propel the Blue Devils past North Carolina 15-8 in a Friday night Tobacco Road battle.
Williams’ five goals came on just six shots and three of those scores were assisted by O’Neill as the line of communication between the two stars was open all night long. A pair of those O’Neill-Williams connections came early in the second quarter and capped a five-goal Duke run to help put them ahead 8-2 early in that second frame.
Logan McGovern (1G/2A) drove left from the top of the box with Kenny Brower guarding just passed the five minute mark in the second frame. Falling down, McGovern went for the behind the back shot and got the bounce to go right in between the legs of Duke’s William Helm. The highlight reel goal made it an 8-2 game with 4:37 left in the second quarter and would be the start of what became a 7-1 North Carolina run that lasted through the 11:37 mark of the third quarter.
Lance Tillman (2G) found each of his goals on the day during that big Tar Heel run, scoring his first with 23 seconds in the first half to make it a 9-4 game. His second came at the 12:37 mark to make it a 9-7 game. Johnny Schwarz followed up exactly one minute later, getting open inside and making it a one-goal, 9-8, game off a McGovern feed. That score, however, ended up being the final goal of the day for the Tar Heels as they were never able to find the same momentum again.
During that nearly 15 minute stretch from late in the second through early in the third, the Tar Heels went 4-for-4 in the clearing game and committed zero turnovers while causing one. Andrew Tyeryear also went 4-for-7 (57%) during that stint, which included winning each of the first three faceoffs of the second half.
On the whole, however, the Tar Heels went 19-for-25 (76%) in the clearing game while Duke went 22-for-24 (91%) in that department. North Carolina also saw Tyeryear go 9-for-26 (34%) at the faceoff dot. Duke outshot the Tar Heels 39-33 and put 23 of their shots on cage. North Carolina put 22 of their shots on cage.
William Helm anchored the Duke defense with 14 saves and a 63% save percentage. Collin Kreig made eight saves with a 34.8% save percentage for North Carolina. Jake Naso went 16-for-25 (64%) at the dot for the Blue Devils and also score a goal.
Duke ended the contest on a six-goal run to pull away late and secure the eventual seven-goal victory. That run saw Williams score twice and O’Neill net his lone score of the day. Garrett Leadmon completed his hat trick during that late-game spurt for the Blue Devils as he led the way for a midfield unit that had a strong showing. Midfielder Owen Caputo also had three points off one goal and two assists.
With the victory gives Duke their first ACC win of the season. The all-time series between these two rivals is now 43-37 in favor of North Carolina. However, in the John Danowski era the Blue Devils have a 20-6 recored against the Tar Heels.
Duke moves to play Air Force at home on Monday night. North Carolina head back to Chapel Hill where they will host an undefeated Dartmouth team on Saunday.
Johns Hopkins Tops Navy
The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays came in Annapolis on Friday looking for payback from last season and they would get by way of a 12-9 victory over the Midshipmen.
Friday night’s victory marks the first win for Johns Hopkins over Navy in the Peter Milliman era. The Blue Jays hold a 63-28-1 lead in the series, which dates back to 1908.
Navy took a one-goal lead twice in the game. The first instances came off a Carter Ash score with 10:27 left in the second quarter to make it a 4-3 Midshipmen lead. The second time came with 3:43 in the third as Sam Dracobly put home a score. Each of these times, however, Johns Hopkins was able to answer and not allow the Midshipmen to expand the lead any further.
The latter of those aforementioned instances saw the Blue Jays put it all together for a game-ending 6-2 run to pull out the three-goal victory. Garrett Degnon (2G) helped spark that late-game run, converting on a the man-up off a Brendan Grimes feed. Matt Collison (1G/2A) found Jonathan Peshko (2G) and then Russell Melendez (2G/1A) for what were the final two goals of the game.
Tim Marcille made 13 saves to anchor the Johns Hopkins defense while defenseman Scott Smith IV (1GB/2CT) and LSM Carson Brown (2GB/2CT) helped lead the way out in front on that end.
Mac Haley led Navy with a hat trick whole Anthony Ghobriel went 16-for-25 (64%) at the faceoff dot. Pat Ryan made 13 saves in cage.
Johns Hopkins moves to play Delaware at home on Sunday as they look to win their third consecutive game. Navy plays Villanova Tuesday and will be seeking to snap its now five game losing streak.
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