Danowski Shadowed, Hoyas Light Up Duke

Georgetown 11, Duke 7

Matt Danowski, Duke's fifth-year senior attackman, was released from a penalty and came out of the box early in the fourth quarter amid a group of players. Jerry Lambe, Georgetown's fifth-year senior defenseman, ran 20 yards and was ready and waiting for him.

There was little that Danowski, the Tewaaraton Trophy winner last year as the top player in college lacrosse, could do to escape Lambe. And it was Lambe and the rest of the defense that propelled the No. 10 Hoyas to an 11-7 victory over the top-ranked Blue Devils yesterday before 2,412 at Multi-Sport Field.

The victory marked the first time Georgetown (4-2) had beaten a team ranked No. 1. The highest-ranked team the Hoyas previously had beaten was No. 2 Syracuse, 14-9, in 1997.

Danowski finished with two goals and two assists, but only one goal came while he was defended by Lambe. Danowski also had five turnovers and served a three-minute non-releasable penalty for an illegal stick at the start of the fourth quarter.

The defensive effort also was epitomized by senior goalkeeper Miles Kass, who finished with 18 saves.

Kass's most important saves arguably came in the opening minutes. The scouting report on him is to shoot low. Duke (8-1) had two shots from 10 to 12 yards in the middle of the field on its opening possessions. Seniors Brad Ross and Bo Carrington each shot low. Kass saved both shots.

"It was a great start," Kass said.

The game-within-the-game focused largely on Danowski and Lambe. The two played together at Farmingdale High School in New York. Last year, Georgetown's game plan called for Lambe to face-guard Danowski -- to follow him all over the field and not pay attention to any other offensive player. Danowski finished with one goal and one assist, but the Blue Devils won, 6-4.

The game plan yesterday called for Lambe to defend Danowski straight-up. Early in the game, Danowski tried to evade Lambe for a shot. He went left, then right, then left, then right again. Lambe stayed with him on every move. Danowski finally took a shot, but it went well wide and the players on the Georgetown bench erupted; advantage Lambe.

"That kid Jerry Lambe played against is the best player in the country," Georgetown Coach Dave Urick said. "We knew we needed a lot of good efforts out of a lot of guys, and they really responded."

Said Lambe: "I watched about 80 hours worth of tape before this thing. I've seen probably just about every dodge he's done this season."

The Blue Devils took a 6-4 lead following a goal by Ross with 3 minutes 24 seconds to play in the third quarter. But redshirt freshman Ricky Mirabito tied the score at 6 following consecutive goals, the second of which came with 25 seconds left in the third quarter.