May 17, 2008

by Paul Krome, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- With one minute left and Duke leading its NCAA quarterfinal against Maryland, 9-6, a Blue Devil photographer turned toward the team bench and said, "Smile, ladies, it's over."

But Duke senior defender Aiyana Newton knew better. "No, it's not. It's never over," she retorted quickly, figuratively wiping the smile off of the photographer's face.

Her team had learned that lesson the hard way, which made the unseeded Devils (13-7) hang on all the more for a 9-7 win over third-seeded Maryland (18-3) and their fourth straight trip to the NCAA semifinals.

Using a toughness they hadn't displayed in well-documented collapses with large leads, a determination to execute a game plan and some "highlight-reel" saves by resurgent goalie Kim Imbesi, the Blue Devils punched what one unidentifiable player amidst a wild celebration called their "most gratifying" trip to next weekend's final four at Minnegan Field in Towson, Md., where they will draw the winner of the Penn-BU quarterfinal.

"To get here given where we were is a testament to the character of this team," said Duke coach Kerstin Kimel, referring to a midseason stretch where her squad lost five of seven games, not to mention lingering effects from two losses to Virginia in the last year in which the Blue Devils could not hold substantial leads. "They learned to sustain faith."

Duke shrugged off a predictably dominant advantage in draw controls by Maryland (14-4, thanks in large measure to Terrapin senior and NCAA single-season record holder Dana Dobbie) by harassing Maryland players after they gained possession of draws.

"Every ground ball, every draw control, they were all over it," said Dobbie.

Ahead 8-6 after calling a timeout with possession with 8:23 to play, the Blue Devils continued another long offensive series before freshman Christie Kaestner caught a contested pass from Megan Del Monte (2g, 2a), nudged herself in between Terps Lauren Cohen and goalie Allie Buote in front of the goal, and bounced what seemed to many to be the clinching goal with 7:07 remaining.

That's when Imbesi, who met individually with coaches and a sports psychologist during that troubled midseason stretch to "re-evaluate myself and do extra stuff to make me better," took over. The Terrapins had plenty of chances to slice the deficit, but Imbesi made eight saves - kicks and punches among them -- in the game's final six minutes, leaving Maryland fans gasped and Duke supporters in a whirlwind. Twice she stopped Kelly Kasper, a Tewaaraton Award finalist alongside teammate Dobbie, on free-position shots. Kasper and Dobbie finished with just one goal apiece.

"We executed perfectly on offense and defense, and then Kim helped us out a little there at the end," said Del Monte, with nod and a smile to her junior goalie, following that with her "highlight" remark.

That Duke was in position to turn a late lead into a victory was due mainly to better executing what Kimel had devised.

"Offensively we wanted to control the tempo. That was a huge part of our game plan," she said, obviously unfazed by the chants of "boring" that emanated from Maryland fans whenever the Blue Devils would pass, and pass, and pass the ball around the perimeter. "We've learned from previous games that we must value the ball. We wanted to wear down, then attack."

Kimel called Maryland "unpredictable" on offense, but prepped her team for the Terps' tendencies of driving hard down the right side and getting Cohen and Dobbie in the middle. Those strategies worked with mixed results - Maryland struck twice, quickly, driving right while rallying from an early 3-0 hole - but they worked better, later. Cohen and Dobbie were forced into four turnovers each. Throughout the game - the rivals' first meeting in the NCAA tournament -- the Terrapins were either unable or unwilling to finish scoring plays on passes from Kasper.

"We had the chances that we needed. Their goalie just made some saves I hadn't seen all season," said Dobbie.

Added Maryland coach Cathy Reese: "A lot of the numbers went in our favor, but their defense played well. They were composed and patient on attack, and they put away their chances. Their defense held away our opportunities."

Caitlyn McFadden scored three goals to lead Maryland, including two during its 4-0 run midway through the first half. From there the game was tied at 4, 5 and 6 - nothing surprising as the last two meetings were decided by one goal each. Del Monte's late goal and assist helped Duke seize control, but as Newton - who helped keep Kasper in check -- foreshadowed, the Terps weren't done.

Seconds after her exchange with the photographer, McFadden spun inside two defenders and pulled Maryland within 9-7 with 45 seconds left. But the Blue Devils forced another turnover following the draw, and they ran out the clock on their way to another semifinal berth.