BOSTON - Senior Jimmy O'Connell notched two goals and three assists but the No. 15 Boston University men's lacrosse team fell to No. 12 Duke, 12-7, on Saturday afternoon at Nickerson Field.

BU (8-3) and Duke (9-3) were tied at 2-2 after 15 minutes, but the Blue Devils outscored the Terriers, 5-1, in the second quarter to create a 7-3 halftime lead. O'Connell scored early in the third quarter to make it a three-goal game, but Duke notched the next three goals to pull away for good.

Freshman Timothy Shannehan tallied two goals and one assist while junior Jimmy Kohr recorded one goal and two assists. Sophomore LSM Donald Varnerin scored in transition and freshman Andrew Pape collected the Terriers' lone man-up goal in two opportunities.

Junior Connor Kehm led BU with a career-best seven ground balls and three caused turnovers while senior Trey Brown had two caused turnovers and two ground balls. BU was effective on the ride, forcing eight failed clears, while clearing at a 21-for-23 clip.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was an even opening 15 minutes, with both teams notching two goals.
• The Blue Devils struck first just 50 seconds into the contest before doubling their lead at 7:52.
• Pape got BU on the board with a man-up goal at 1:15 before Shannehan equalized with just 0.8 seconds on the clock.
• Duke exploded for five straight goals in a span of 4:13, capped by an Aidan Maguire marker with 5:21 left in the half.
• Varnerin scored a goal off a successful ride in the final seconds of the first half. Kehm scooped up an errant pass and the Terriers quickly cleared the ball before O'Connell dished it to Varnerin for the sophomore's second goal of the season.
• After BU successfully killed a Duke man-up chance to start the third quarter, O'Connell tallied his second goal of the day to make it a three-goal game.
• Duke responded just over two minutes later and then notched two goals in 60 seconds to make it 10-4 with 2:04 to go in the third quarter.
• BU outscored Duke, 3-2, in the final 15 minutes, including a nice diving effort by O'Connell, but the Blue Devils added an open-net goal to seal the 12-7 victory.

• Kohr, O'Connell and Shannehan have all recorded at least one point in each of the Terriers' 11 games this season.
• Shannehan leads BU with 48 points (24g, 24a) while O'Connell is second with 45 points (23g, 22a) and Kohr is third with 39 points (31g, 8a).
• Kehm matched the Terriers' single-game high this season with seven ground balls.
• He leads BU in ground balls (38) and caused turnovers (23).
• BU was 4-for-6 against the Blue Devils' man-up unit.
• Senior Will Barnes made eight saves.

UP NEXT

• BU will resume its Patriot League schedule on Saturday, April 12, when the Terriers travel to Lafayette.
• Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m.