M LAX: Quinzani Scores Three Goals As Duke Downs Lehigh, 16-5

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M LAX: Quinzani Scores Three Goals As Duke Downs Lehigh, 16-5

Mar 5, 2008

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — DURHAM, N.C. – Max Quinzani tallied three goals and Duke scored 12 consecutive goals as the second-ranked Blue Devils defeated visiting Lehigh, 16-5, at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.

The Blue Devils, winners of 20 of their last 22 home tilts, improve to 4-0 on the year while the Mountain Hawks fall to 2-3.

Lehigh jumped out to a 3-0 advantage at the end of the first period behind goals from Daniel Honeywell, Richard Bradley and Max Dahlem. Duke's Mike Catalino responded with back-to-back goals before Steve Schoeffel's unassisted tally at the 6:29 mark of the second quarter tied the game at 3-3.

Bo Carrington gave the Blue Devils their first lead of the contest with a goal at the 3:53 mark, but the teams went to halftime deadlocked at 4-4 when Lehigh's Ricky Cornetta scored the final marker of the period with 1:43 on the clock.

Duke blew open the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Mountain Hawks by a 9-0 count. Quinzani's goal from Matt Danowski less than two minutes into the period gave the Blue Devils a 5-4 lead, and Danowski's tally just six seconds later pushed Duke in front by two goals. The lead would increase to 13-4 by the end of the quarter on Quinzani's third goal of the day with 1:21 remaining.

In the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils extended their run of consecutive goals to 12 on tallies from Brad Ross, Michael Hutchings and Chris Loftus. Lehigh's John Henry McNierney's goal with 25 seconds left accounted for the final margin.

Quinzani has now registered a hat trick in three straight games and is tied for the team lead, along with Zack Greer, with 11 goals on the year. Carrington, Catalino and Ross each added two goals while Danowski chipped in one goal and two assists. With three points on the day, Danowski moved into 11th place on the NCAA's all-time scoring chart with 277 career points.

Duke won 16-of-25 draws, led by Sam Payton (6-of-11) and Rob Wellington (5-of-6). Payton was credited for a team-high six ground balls while Tony McDevitt had five.

Duke goalkeeper Dan Loftus improved to 29-6 as a starter by posting eight saves against four goals allowed in three quarters of action. Eric Spirko had 16 saves while surrendering 14 goals in 51:40 of time in the Lehigh net.

Duke travels to face 13th-ranked Loyola on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Baltimore. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.