Duquesne Lacrosse Shows Improvement in Loss

Duquesne Lacrosse displays progress in 19-13 defeat against Mount St. Mary's.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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In a 19-13 loss to Mount St. Mary's, Duquesne Lacrosse showed clear signs of improvement in the second year under head coach Tracy Coyne. The team won the second half after a challenge from Coyne at halftime, and several players had standout performances, including junior attacker Gracin Emerson matching a program record with seven assists. Freshman Sydney Girardi also scored her first two collegiate goals, showcasing the team's offensive depth. While the defense still has room for growth, Coyne was pleased with the team's resolve and believes they are moving in the right direction.

Why it matters

Duquesne Lacrosse is in the early stages of a rebuild under Coach Coyne, and this game demonstrates the progress the team is making despite the loss. The improved performance against a tough opponent is an encouraging sign for the program's future.

The details

Duquesne Lacrosse fell behind early but fought back in the second half, winning that half after Coyne challenged the team at halftime. Junior attacker Gracin Emerson tied a program record with seven assists, while freshman Sydney Girardi scored her first two collegiate goals. The defense still has room for improvement, but Coyne was pleased with the team's resolve and believes they are moving in the right direction.

  • Duquesne played Mount St. Mary's on Saturday afternoon.
  • A week ago, Duquesne scored six goals against Akron.

The players

Tracy Coyne

Duquesne Lacrosse head coach who is in her second year leading the program.

Gracin Emerson

Duquesne junior attacker who matched a program record with seven assists in the game.

Sydney Girardi

Duquesne freshman who scored her first two collegiate goals in the game.

Casey McBride

Duquesne senior defender who had three charges taken, drawing loud ovations.

Ella Roach

Duquesne freshman goalkeeper who had 10 saves in the game.

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What they’re saying

“It was definitely a goal that we had at halftime to come out and win the second half, which is the reason why I called that timeout, just to remind them of what we were trying to accomplish. I think they implemented a lot of the things we were working on very well and I was very happy with how it went.”

— Tracy Coyne, Head Coach (on3.com)

“I think she last week against Akron she had a big matchup and she played pretty well even though we didn't see the results like we did today.”

— Tracy Coyne, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

Duquesne will look to return the favor from last season's 11-10 loss when they face Robert Morris on Wednesday.

The takeaway

While Duquesne Lacrosse fell short against Mount St. Mary's, the team's improved performance and resolve demonstrate the progress being made under Coach Coyne's leadership. The Dukes are moving in the right direction and will look to build on this showing in their next game against Robert Morris.