Lacrosse Comes Up Short Against Duke

Friday, February 6

Durham, N.C.

3:00 PM

University of Utah

1-1, 0-0

Duke

2-0, 0-0

Utah

Duke

Photo by: Reagan Lunn/Duke Athletics

2/6/2026 5:27 PM | Lacrosse

Box Score

Utes fall 14-7 to the No. 11-ranked Blue Devils

DURHAM, N.C. – The University of Utah lacrosse team fell to the No. 11 Duke Blue Devils, 14-7, on the road at Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium on Friday night.

The Utes (1-1) trailed by just a goal after the first 15 minutes, but a 5-0 run by Duke (2-0) to start the second quarter put a gap between the two sides that Utah could not overcome. Utah was outshot by the Blue Devils, 51-29, and converted on just one of four extra-man opportunities.

GAME LEADERS
Colin Lenskold tallied 13 saves in the cage for the Utes, with 51 shots faced falling just one shy of his career high.

Ryan Stines quarterbacked the Utah offense, leading the way with five points on a goal and four helpers. Luke McNamara scored three goals for his second hat trick in as many games to start the year, putting seven of his nine shots on net.

Nathan Chalmers (2 goals) and Conner Flanagan (1 goal) both entered the scoring column for the first time this year. Flanagan also paced the Utah defense with a pair of caused turnovers while Marco Pascarella nabbed a team-high five ground balls to go with a CT. Tyler Kloeckl won nine faceoff tries and picked up four ground balls.

FIRST QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Duke was able to get on the board first, scoring two goals in the first 90 seconds of the game. Utah's defense found its footing, however, as Lenskold saved the next three shots on net. The third, a bouncer from dead ahead, found its way into Lenskold's stick and was quickly sent upfield to Luca Pivetta. Pivetta sent it over to an open McNamara, who was able to convert with 9:26 on the clock to make the score 2-1.

Defense ?? Offense

?? ACC Network#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/0RcZ8f5opG
— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) February 6, 2026

Neither side could find much footing in the offensive end for the remainder of the period thanks to some stout defensive efforts, and the Utes entered the second quarter down by one.

SECOND QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Duke opened the second quarter with five unanswered goals, extending the lead to 7-1 with nine minutes left in the half. After another Lenskold save, the goalie sent it downfield to Marco Pascarella, who found Stines who immediately sent it across the cage to McNamara for his second of the game to stop the run.

Shooters shoot.

?? ACC Network#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/PNx9T01JJA
— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) February 6, 2026

Stines then showed patience on the offensive end, and the North Carolina native was able to bury one in the back of the net to make it 7-3. Duke scored two more quick goals to push the lead back to six, but with seconds left before the whistle, Stines cut into the center of the field and found a cutting Chalmers, who tallied his first goal of the campaign, sending the Utes into the locker room down 9-4.

The Utes were outshot, 31-13, in the first 30 minutes of play despite the two sides being even with eight faceoff wins apiece.

THIRD QUARTER BREAKDOWN
After a quick Duke goal, Conner Flanagan answered right back for the Utes, netting his first collegiate goal off a feed from Stines. Utah was able to up the offensive intensity through the middle part of the period but was unable to find another score until the end of the frame.

Great news... POLE GOALS ARE BACK! ??????

Conner Flanagan let this one fly for a @UtahLacrosse goal.

(via ACCN) pic.twitter.com/pNCkj03K3y
— TLN ?? (@LacrosseNetwork) February 6, 2026

Duke tacked on one more to make it an 11-5 game with 6:42 left, but after a man-up shot by Chalmers was saved, Zachary White nabbed a ground ball and dished it to McNamara, who buried it for his second hat trick in as many games this season with 43 seconds left on the clock.

Utah entered the final period down, 11-6.

FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Duke scored once to open the final period, but Chalmers answered with six minutes remaining to keep the Utes in striking range.

DiPonio and Stines set it up, Chalmers puts it in the net!

?? ACC Network#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/AfsA2mDSDI
— Utah Lacrosse (@UtahLacrosse) February 6, 2026

Utah would be unable to find the back of the net again, and Duke tacked on two more late goals to seal the 14-7 win.

UP NEXT
Utah is set to open the home portion of its schedule on Valentine's Day. The Utes will take on Denver at noon MT inside Rice-Eccles Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN+. All home games during the 2026 season will not be ticketed and fans will be permitted to enter free of charge.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can follow along on social media (X: @UTAHLacrosse | Instagram: @utahlacrosse), and the official mobile app of Utah Athletics, Utah360 -- download here.