DURHAM, N.C. – The 20th-ranked University of Richmond men’s lacrosse team suffered its second overtime loss to a nationally ranked opponent this season Friday as the Spiders fell 16-15 to No. 13 Duke at Koskinen Stadium in nonconference action.
The Spiders lost earlier this season to No. 4 Maryland by a 14-13 margin in double overtime as two of their three losses have come after regulation.
The Spiders outscored Duke 5-1 in the fourth quarter, rallying from a four-goal deficit with 15 minutes remaining in regulation. Richmond has outscored the Blue Devils in the fourth quarter 9-1 in the past two meetings after going 4-0 in a rally in the 2019 NCAA tournament loss (12-11).
Senior midfielder Tyler Shoults led the way offensively for the Spiders, scoring six points on the night with three goals and three assists. His three goals are a season high while his three assists are the most for him in a game since dishing out five helpers last year at Duke in the NCAA tournament.
Redshirt senior Adrian Nash continued his inspiring return to the field this season, notching his first career hat trick. Nash, who earlier this season scored his first goal since 2017, missed the last two years because of injury and entered the game with 13 career goals, 12 coming in 2016 and 2017.
Duke (3-2) was led by freshman Dyson Williams, who scored seven goals in the victory.
The wild, back-and-forth affair saw big runs by each team sway the momentum throughout the contest. The Spiders broke open a 3-3 game late in the first quarter, scoring three goals in the final 2:10 taking a 6-3 lead after 15 minutes. Nash started the scoring with his second of the game while Shoults added his first. Junior Brett Reid capped the spurt by scoring in the final second of the quarter off a great feed from Lawrence Galizia.
The Spiders would extend the lead to 8-4 at the 8:59 mark of the second quarter after Shoults’ second goal of the game. Duke responded with six straight goals, including four in the final 4:28 of the first half. Williams scored five straight goals in the run and the Blue Devils held a 10-8 lead.
Nash and Mitch Savoca scored in the third quarter but Duke recorded the final three goals of the period, taking a 14-10 lead into the fourth quarter. Junior Brett Randall scored the first for the Spiders in the fourth early but freshman Richie Connell pulled the Spiders within two at 14-12 with a man-up goal at the 4:24 mark of the fourth.
Senior defender Jack Cook scored his first career goal just 19 seconds later, scoring off the break with the long-stick to pull within one. Shoults knotted up the game at 14-14 with his third of the day at the 3:41 mark. Duke answered back with a goal at the 2:53 mark but junior Ryan Lanchbury had the response 50 seconds later, knotting the game at 15-15.
The Spiders weathered the Duke offense in the closing minutes of regulation and their final offensive attempt with 20 seconds remaining came up short. The Blue Devils won the opening faceoff in overtime and the Spiders’ defense was able to keep them at bay for most of the shot clock. Sean Lowrie was able to beat goalie Jack Rusbuldt late in the shot clock for the game-winning tally.
Richmond continues its four-game road swing Tuesday afternoon, travelling to Mount St. Mary’s. Game time in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is set for 4 p.m.