Box Score DURHAM, N.C. –
Kyle Playsted overtook Tucker Ciessau as Bellarmine's all-time goals leader in the Knights' season opener on Saturday, but the Knights fell to No. 2 Duke 20-12.
Playsted entered the 2024 season with 81 career goals, two behind Ciessau (2014-17). The ASUN Preseason Player of the Year netted his third goal of the game with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter at Koskinen Stadium. It was the senior's 14
th hat trick of his career.
Sophomore attackman
John Alie recorded his first career hat trick.
Preseason All-ASUN attackman and fifth-year senior
Benny O'Rourk scored a pair of goals and dished out two assists. O'Rourk now has 79 career goals, five behind Playsted and two ahead of
Christian Della Rocco's 77.
The Blue Devils controlled possession for most of the game, taking 24 of 35 faceoffs. The Knights fell behind 6-3 after the first quarter, with Bellarmine scoring each goal after Duke had scored two. Playsted's second goal came with 10:29 left in the second quarter and cut the Blue Devils' lead to one at 6-5.
Duke, however, exerted their will from that point. They scored eight straight goals to take a 14-5 lead into halftime and then added the first six goals of the third quarter to make it 20-5.
Playsted's third goal stopped Duke's 14-0 run. The Knights would hold the Blue Devils scoreless the rest of the way and score seven goals over the final 20 minutes to bring the final tally to 20-12.
Senior
Wilson Murphree added two goals, the fourth multi-goal game of his career, while juniors Jayden Wilkins and
Justin Wescoat scored one each.
2023 Tewaaraton Award winner Brennan O'Neill led the way for Duke with four goals. Dyson Williams and Josh Zawada each netted hat tricks. Williams also had a game-high five assists.
Bellarmine plays their second of three straight road games to start the season next Sunday, Feb. 11, at St. Bonaventure. Faceoff will be at 12 p.m. ET.
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