Saturday was a battle for a bid. For Virginia, a loss meant the end of the season. For Duke, a win meant bolstering its NCAA Tournament hopes after last week's upset of Syracuse . Both teams were desperate for a spot in the ACC Tournament, but only Duke would add the game to its calendar. A 10-9 overtime victory settled the debate as the Blue Devils ended the Cavaliers' season. Characterized by a high-velocity opening half and a third-quarter scoring drought, Duke persevered with critical saves by sophomore Patrick Jameison and a last-minute shot to seal the victory. “There was pressure,” head coach John Danowski said. “I thought the team felt the pressure a little bit during the third quarter, and Virginia was terrific; they played really well. But the guys handled the adversity of being behind. Then, we were able to tie it and then obviously win in overtime.” Jameison was face-to-face with a Virginia midfielder just over two minutes into overtime. A critical block by the Devon, Pa., native deflected the ball, but it was quickly scooped into a Cavalier’s pocket. Six seconds later, Virginia’s fourth overtime shot attempt came straight towards Jameison. As the ball rocketed towards the net, the Duke sophomore lunged forward. In an improbable save, Jameison intercepted it in the lining of his clothes. He secured his 14th stop of the game with his shorts. “Patrick seems to get better as the game goes on, and get better in the fourth quarter and today, of course, overtime,” Danowski said. “So, really, just very proud of him.” After the successful clear, Danowski had a single guaranteed chance to talk to his 2024-25 roster. As 1:20 loomed on the clock overlooking Klöckner Stadium, he hoped to elicit an overtime response that would keep the season alive. Virginia head coach Lars Tiffany had the same goal. Out of the break, the Cavaliers stole possession from senior Andrew McAdorey, completing the clear with the prize of another game in sight. A costly turnover — part of a larger pattern of Virginia mistakes — allowed Duke to seize the ball. McAdorey, gaining possession, sent a pass flying to sophomore Benn Johnston. He fired the ball into the net and booked Duke’s trip to the ACC Tournament, cementing the 10-9 score on the Charlottesville, Va., scoreboard. Duke had done it. Blue Devil fans who tuned in at 3:00 p.m. EST would’ve never been expected to be worried about Duke’s ability to punch a tournament ticket. A minute into the game, McAdorey launched a shot into Virginia’s goal to give Duke (11-4, 2-2 in the ACC) an early lead. Tomas Delgado joined in for the first time this season, ripping a shot through the net 40 seconds later. Within ten seconds of that, junior Luke Engelke capped the explosive sequence. A trio of tallies stood beside Duke’s name. However, goals kept coming fast. Virginia seniors Thomas Mencke and Griffin Schutz each found the net, joined by a third strike by junior Truitt Sunderland. The Blue Devils held their lead to end the first quarter 5-3, with key shots credited to Eric Malever and freshman Liam Kershis. Shooting attacks continued into the second as both teams bumped their scores by two. The Cavaliers’ fifth goal struck through Jameison in the net with 8:42 to go, and suddenly, the scoring burst came to an abrupt halt. The clock ticked down as the scoreboard froze at 7-5 in favor of the visitors. Into the third quarter, Virginia decided to give Duke a taste of its own medicine. A ripple of three unanswered goals caused the Blue Devils to fall behind for the first time. Failed opportunities to take advantage of two man-up periods had Duke facing a 28:35 scoring drought — and the pressure was evident. “You can feel it. It was palpable. In the huddles and on the bench. You want to make sure that guys understand that that's no way to have fun on a Saturday afternoon,” Danowski said. “The one thing you can't do is you can't play tight; you’ve got to smile a little bit. You’ve got to look at your teammates. You’ve got to take a deep breath, look at the stands, look at the scoreboard, whatever it is, and then refocus.” Luckily, the Blue Devils were able to find that fun on a Saturday afternoon. Almost four minutes into the final quarter, the duo of McAdorey and Keith Boyer put Duke back on track. A behind-the-back pass from the senior captain set up Boyer, who launched the ball into the goal. The score broke the Blue Devils’ scoring drought but also ended a personal one for Boyer, as he netted his first goal of the season. Virginia answered with eight minutes to go as Sunderland completed a hat trick. Feeling the pressure while the clock continued to tick, Delgado, who had just broken his scoreless season earlier in the game, snuck in a low-bounce goal with 4:30 left. The game tied at 9-9. “We projected him to be one of our top six offensive middies, and he has gone the whole season and hasn't scored a goal,” Danowski said. “I am so proud of him for hanging in there. We never stopped believing in him.” Duke’s regular season can be best defined by that same sentiment: unwavering belief. After Saturday’s game, a team that two weeks ago was surrounded by a dialogue of defeat, facing a future without the ACC or NCAA Tournaments, has secured its spot in the first round of its championship run.
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