STANFORD, Calif. — A late fourth-quarter comeback paired with a stifling defensive effort provided the tools needed for the Stanford lacrosse team to push to victory as the Cardinal stymied the No. 22/24 Duke Blue Devils on Sunday afternoon, 11-10. In victory, Stanford ties the best start in the program’s history in the non-COVID era and ties the second-best start in program history.
No. 2 Stanford (8-0, 5-0 ACC) fell behind early in the matchup as the visitors jumped out to an imposing 2-0 lead through the first five minutes of action. Though the Cardinal had its efforts in the frame, four saves by Duke’s Hope Shoudel kept the Cardinal at bay as the Blue Devils (5-3, 2-2 ACC) tacked on a late tally to enter the second quarter up, 3-0.
Having given up the first goal of the period just 12 seconds into it, the Cardinal offensive wagon got rolling, rattling off three-straight goals highlighted by Kaleigh Sommers’ first of the season. Annabel Frist got the scoring started for Stanford having finished off a feed from Mallory Hasselbeck before Martha Oakey tallied her first of three free-position tallies on the day to cut the Duke lead in half. Just after the Oakey eight-meter tally, Stanford’s defense showed its poise on both sides of the field to trim the lead to one.
With Duke unable to move into the offensive end as Annabel Frist’s backchecking earned her a caused turnover, Kaleigh Sommers’ transition brought the Cardinal within reach. Having earned a ground ball on the ensuing scrum, Sommers raced down the field - while shielding off two Duke defenders - and slotted the ball past Shoudel to get Stanford back within one.
Sometimes defense is offense!
— Stanford Lacrosse (@StanfordWLax) March 9, 2026
Kaleigh's fifth of her career had us all in awe!#GoStanford x #Together pic.twitter.com/SNtLkj4THH
Both teams though continued to trade blows heading into the break with Duke bookending Oakey’s second eight-meter tally late in the frame to take a 6-4 lead into the halftime break.
In the second half, Duke regained its four-goal advantage, scoring twice inside the first 90 seconds to take an 8-4 lead. However, Stanford’s defense hung tight in the remainder of the game as the Blue Devils would tally twice more in the final 27:30 of game action.
Having already snatched a scoring swing in the first half, Stanford went back-to-back to cut the lead to two just under five minutes into the second half. Oakey got the spring started with her hat trick from the eight-meter hash before Rylee Bouvier slotted home a feed in front from Ava Arceri. Duke, though, found its answer three minutes after, increasing the lead back to three with seven minutes remaining in the frame.
From then on out, it was Stanford’s grit on defense that found a way. Forcing Duke into seven turnovers by herself, Kate Bellissimo and the defensive corps stymied the Blue Devils seven times in the final half while the fifth-year senior snatched seven caused turnovers, breaking the Stanford record that had been tied 13 times and stood for nearly 26 years. Stanford also held Duke scoreless from the eight-meter hash as the Blue Devils went 0-for-5.
With the defense keeping the Blue Devils at bay, the Cardinal offense went on a 5-1 run in the final 20:59 of game action to pull to victory. Aliya Polisky and Arceri combined for a one-two punch to end the third quarter as the Cardinal trailed by one entering the final frame. Having trailed since the first quarter, Stanford notched the scoreline for the second time of the afternoon as Polisky’s left-handed shot rifled past the goalkeeper to bring the game to a 9-9 tie just two minutes into the fourth.
Duke, however, found its answer with a strike just over a minute later with Ava Biancardi snagging her third of the day. Stanford though, was not to be denied as Jordyn Case used her signature dodge to meander through two defenders and level the score at 10-10 with under five minutes to play. With under four minutes to go, Stanford continued its defensive dominance as Duke was denied late in the frame as the Cardinal caused a shot clock violation.
With under two minutes to go, Stanford eyed its first lead of the game with the ball in the stick of Aliya Polisky. Having been utilized as a distributor of late, Polisky isolated her defender and found a streaking Frist who slotted home the dish to give Stanford its first - and only - lead of the game with 1:50 remaining in regulation.
The Tennessee Connection is unstoppable!😤
— Stanford Lacrosse (@StanfordWLax) March 9, 2026
The feed -> the finish -> ball game!#GoStanford x #Together pic.twitter.com/DbRIcQaQ7i
With Duke in possession late in regulation, Stanford held firm, keeping Duke on the fringe of the field before an errant pass outside the zone resulted in a Duke turnover with 38 seconds left in the game. Looking to complete the comeback, Amanda Lawson’s successful footrace to the restrainer on the ensuing clear solidified the win as the Cardinal downed the Blue Devils for an 11-10 win.
Stanford is back in action next weekend as it hosts No. 6/7 Notre Dame in the second game of the three-game homestand on Saturday, March 14. Opening draw against the Fighting Irish is slated for 6 p.m.