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DURHAM, N.C. — Eric Malever wasn’t playing his best lacrosse during the stretch of the season. Neither was Duke’s attack. The goals dried up for the Blue Devils, in part because of Malever’s struggles.

The Blue Devils’ points leader in 2025 went scoreless for the first time all season in key losses to No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 5 North Carolina. A four-point performance in a win over Boston University was sandwiched in between, though Malever’s performances in Duke’s defeats left much to be desired.

That changed Saturday in No. 12 Duke’s (10-4, 1-2 Atlantic Coast) 11-7 win over No. 7 Syracuse (9-4, 2-1 Atlantic Coast). Malever tied a career-high five goals in the Blue Devils’ best offensive output in an ACC game this season. The attack found crevices to exploit in Syracuse’s backline. Malever’s connection with fellow attack Andrew McAdorey (one goal, two assists) kept the Orange on their heels, handing them their second straight loss.

Malever, a Maryland transfer, was brought in to help cushion the blow of Duke losing its entire attack — Brennan O’Neill, Dyson Williams and Josh Zawada — to the Premier Lacrosse League. The Blue Devils were always going to struggle to replace their attack, who combined for 224 points last season.

In three seasons at Maryland, Malever recorded 105 points, 48 of which came during the Terrapins’ 2022 undefeated season. An injury the following season and a less productive senior season (37 points) led Malever to transfer to Duke for a graduate season. Malever has tried to play his part in keeping Duke’s offense afloat.

Through 13 games, he led Duke in points with 51, though in three of Duke’s last four games, the Blue Devils failed to score eight goals. In their loss to North Carolina, their starting attack of Malever, McAdorey and Liam Kershis recorded just one goal. Someone needed to step up ahead of a crucial matchup with Syracuse.

Malever took matters into his own hands. He scored twice in the first quarter as Duke jumped to a 3-0 lead, which prevented Syracuse from ever pulling ahead.

Duke scored just over three minutes in. McAdorey curled around from X, while Malever placed himself there. Since McAdorey also posed a scoring threat, with 32 points this season, Malever’s primary defender Michael Grace had his eyes on him. When McAodrey fed Malever, Grace had to go all the way around the goal due to his positioning. Grace was already off balance, and Malever spun around for a lefty rip, beating Jimmy McCool at his near post.

Eight minutes later, Malever added his second. Cole Krauss forced a turnover from Payton Anderson, one of his game-high four Saturday, which led to a transition opportunity for Duke. Midfielder Wyatt Hottle got trapped on the defensive end and picked up Kershis. Malever received a screen from Kershis at X and forced Hottle to switch onto him. Malever then scooted by Hottle and finished low for his second goal.

Duke attack Eric Malever (left) drives at Syracuse’s short-stick midfielder Nathan LeVine (right). Malever’s five goals propelled the Blue Devils to score their most goals in more than a month. Leonardo Eriman | Asst. Video Editor

The Blue Devils tried to push in transition facing Syracuse. Outside of Sam English, SU doesn’t have midfielders that go both ways. With offensive midfielders constantly subbing out, it gives opponents chances to push the pace after stops. Duke took full advantage of those chances because of its recent poor offensive play.

Late in the first half, Syracuse made a push after failing to score in the first 19 minutes. The Orange recorded four goals in six minutes to cut their deficit to one. English nearly tied the game, but Patrick Jameison denied him, which set off another Duke break.

Keith Boyer came streaking down the middle before hitting Aiden Maguire. One more pass to Malever on the doorstep led to his third goal of the first half.

“What typically happens is the team moves the ball better and becomes more of a team offense, not relying on superstars to get the job done,” SU head coach Gary Gait said of Duke’s new-look offense on Thursday. “Although they don’t have the same players, in some ways, it’ll help them with their offensive concepts and things like that.”

With less than a minute remaining in the first half, Malever added his fourth. McAdorey rifled a skip pass from the left wing to Malever, who popped open on the backside of the crease. Malever once again had a simple finish and extended Duke’s lead to three. His quick scores were part of six straight Blue Devil goals from the second to third quarters.

Malever’s fifth and final tally concluded that run. McAdorey again connected with his fellow attack to break down SU’s defense. Malever curled his off-ball run from X, catching the ball on the run after McAdorey fed him. This time, he was guarded by Dwan, but the long pole was too slow and couldn’t catch up to him, which led to another easy score.

“Most of (Malever’s goals) were off ball, you had two dunks on the back pipe, so they made plays. They found the open guys and made plays, and I give them a lot of credit for that,” Gait said postgame.

With Duke leading 11-4, Malever didn’t need to attack with the same urgency. The Blue Devils sat comfortably, and even though they didn’t score during the final 17 minutes, Syracuse couldn’t make up the deficit. Malever’s scoring got Duke ahead from the jump, and it kept the Blue Devils in front throughout.

With Duke’s offense struggling at a crucial point of its season, it looked to its most experienced attacker for guidance, and he delivered in a big way on Saturday.

Published on April 20, 2025 at 5:31 pm
Contact Zak: zakwolf784254@gmail.com | @ZakWolf22