While Duke’s initial lead was shocking - I never felt that the game was out of Cuse’s reach. Sometimes 7-8 goals is a huge lead and sometimes it’s do-able, especially if the team that is down is the better team. A 7-8 goal lead on Syracuse, with more than half the game left to play, is anything but comfortable (except to maybe 3-4 teams). It depends entirely on the two teams playing. It was 12-8 Duke by halftime which was an easy deficit to cover. A 4 goal lead with 30 mins to play, against a very good team, in lacrosse is minuscule…especially with the possession clock. I always thought of choking as “a worse performance than you’d expect given one’s experience & ability - particularly in stressful or high-pressure situations”. I think you could apply that certainly to Cuse’s first 15 mins and maybe the first half, but they made good adjustments and started playing at the level they are capable of. Duke didn’t just roll over either. Others may define “choking” another way, though.DMac wrote: ↑Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:44 am I don't know what your link is showing me, I know what the score was at the end of one but you don't win games at the end of one, it's a sixty minute game. You don't win games at the half either. You give zero credit to the team who fought back and didn't lay down because they were behind on the scoreboard when you say Duke choked. Cuse regrouped after taking a punch in the face and fought back to take the W, this is not a choke by Duke, it's hard fought victory by Cuse.
Maybe if this whole game happened in reverse…it was a close contest throughout - then in the 4th Syracuse just decided to let Duke walk around the 8 unmarked, let them score 8 wide open goals, and lost the game I’d consider the idea that Cuse choked.
