Sloat’s Scoring Surge Powers No. 11 Duke Past Bellarmine in Dominant Season Opener
DURHAM, N.C. - The 2026 men’s lacrosse season couldn’t have started much better for the Blue Devils. Duke came out firing on all cylinders Monday afternoon at Cohan Fields, rolling past Bellarmine 23-8 behind a statement performance from senior midfielder Max Sloat.
Sloat wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the country. He poured in five goals - all in the first half - on just seven shots and added an assist for good measure.
It matched his career high for goals and points, equaling the six-point outing he had against Providence last season. With 75 career points now under his belt, Sloat is closing in on the century mark.
But this wasn’t a one-man show. Duke’s offense looked deep, balanced, and relentless.
Junior Benn Johnston made his first career start at attack and looked right at home, scoring four goals in a smooth transition to his new role. Freshman Michael Ortlieb made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut, notching a hat trick.
Liam Kershis added three of his own, and by the time the dust settled, 15 Blue Devils had seen their first career minutes, and four different players had found the back of the net for the first time in a Duke uniform.
How It Unfolded
Duke set the tone early. After holding Bellarmine scoreless for nearly the first nine minutes, Sloat and Ortlieb got the Blue Devils on the board. Sloat then went back-to-back with a pair of unassisted goals to close out the first quarter, giving Duke a 4-1 lead.
Johnston opened the second quarter with a quick strike, and after Bellarmine briefly stopped the bleeding with a goal from Joe Alie, Duke responded with a five-goal avalanche. That included a Sloat goal with just seven seconds left in the half, capping an 8-1 run that gave the Blue Devils a commanding 10-2 lead at the break.
The second quarter also saw a pair of firsts: Kyle Colsey scored his first collegiate goal, assisted by graduate student Thomas Mencke, who picked up his first point at Duke. Longstick midfielder Mac Christmas - a fan favorite for his two-way ability - added a goal of his own, reminding everyone he’s not just a defensive presence.
Turning the Screws
Whatever momentum Duke had going into halftime, they doubled down on it in the third. The Blue Devils opened the quarter with six unanswered goals, stretching their run to 11 straight and pushing the lead to 16-2. Ortlieb kicked off the second-half scoring with a finish off a Sloat feed, and shortly after, Brady Scioletti joined the first-goal club with his first of two on the day.
The defense did its part, too. Duke held Bellarmine scoreless for a stretch of nearly 26 minutes, spanning from the second quarter into the fourth.
Six different Blue Devils caused turnovers, while Charlie Johnson and Will Tantillo each scooped up four ground balls. It was a complete team effort on that end of the field.
By the time the third quarter wrapped up, Duke had scored nine more goals - this time from five different players - and took a 19-3 lead into the final frame.
Bellarmine’s Late Push
To their credit, the Knights showed some fight in the fourth. Bellarmine outscored Duke 5-4 in the final quarter, led by three goals apiece from Joe and John Alie. Ezra Moore was a bright spot as well, dishing out five assists to finish with six points on the day.
Duke, meanwhile, kept the depth chart rolling. Jack Pappendick and Luke Engelke each added goals, with Engelke also going 5-of-8 at the faceoff X. Freshman Austin Hicks picked up his first career point with an assist.
Faceoff play was a strength all afternoon. Cal Girard went 11-of-16 with seven ground balls and an assist, while Ben McCarthy added a 7-of-10 showing with five ground balls of his own.
In the Crease
Four different goalies saw action for Duke. Patrick Jameison earned the win with three saves, while Buck Cunningham added two stops in 10 minutes.
Henry Blake made one save during his 7:48 of action between the pipes. The rotation gave the coaching staff a good look at their depth in net - something that could pay dividends as the season wears on.
Notable Numbers & Milestones
- Duke improves to 17-3 in season openers under head coach John Danowski.
- The Blue Devils have now won six straight season openers.
- Sloat’s five-goal outing matched his career high and brought him to 75 career points.
- Johnston’s four-goal debut at attack pushed his career total to 68 points.
- Ortlieb (3), Scioletti (2), Colsey (1), and Owen Gaffney (1) all scored their first career goals.
- Rookie Will Pedicano picked up two ground balls in his debut at LSM.
- Duke fired off 58 shots - their most in a game since 2024, when they took 62 against Bellarmine.
What’s Next
The Blue Devils won’t have to wait long for their next test. They’re back at it in just four days, hosting Utah on Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. on ACC Network. After a performance like this, expectations will be high - and with the kind of depth, talent, and energy Duke showed in their opener, they look ready to meet the moment.