Lacrosse fans couldn’t believe that Duke’s lacrosse team didn’t get called for a crease violation on a game-winning overtime goal over Penn State in Saturday’s NCAA semifinals.
As the game went to extra minutes, Duke midfielder Garrett Leadmon popped in the ball for a walk-off score on Penn State that won the game, 16-15, and got his team into the NCAA finals.
However, it looked like Leadmon may have stepped into the crease (the circular area around the net) on the game winner, which would’ve been a rule violation and nullified the goal.
The referees looked to have missed the call, which did not thrill the lacrosse viewers at home who felt that Leadmon had earned a penalty.
LEADMON!!!! DUKE WINS!!
📺 ESPN2#NCAAMLAX x @DukeMLAX pic.twitter.com/5fsqOyf95B
— NCAA Lacrosse (@NCAALAX) May 27, 2023
There aren’t reviewable replays in NCAA lacrosse for these situations, which didn’t allow for a second look at Leadmon’s game-winning goal.
Lacrosse fans felt that the Duke midfielder indeed crossed the crease to spark the overtime victory, and they were vocal about it on social media.
Feature image courtesy of ESPN.
Penn State lacrosse just got screwed. That was a clear crease violation.
Hate to see an epic semifinal end like that.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 27, 2023
Of course Duke won in OT on a missed crease call.
— Caroline Darney (@cwdarney) May 27, 2023
He stepped in the crease…. And it can’t be reviewed??!!!
Oo that sucks for Penn State.. I know they’re furious.
— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) May 27, 2023
oh my god. absolutely nightmare scenario for the NCAA. blatant missed call and no way to review it. that’s going to have to change this offseason.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) May 27, 2023
Penn State just got hosed. Duke in the crease on the game winning goal. How can you not review a game ending goal in college lacrosse? I feel like that should be the one thing in the whole sport you should be able to review. What a joke 😂
— Mack Schrock (@schrockmr) May 27, 2023
Duke in the crease. @NCAA college lacrosse refs as per usual are absolutely horrible
— JΛCK CΛRPΞNTΞR ™ (@JackCarpenter40) May 27, 2023
Got home late. Turns on Penn State vs Duke lacrosse match. Sudden death overtime and Penn State loses fifteen seconds after I turned it on. 😑😞 And that should not have counted. He was in the crease!!!
— JustAnotherSportsGuy (@PaAlbatross) May 27, 2023
Duke just got a bid to the national title game on a crease violation that’s not reviewable, we need review in college lacrosse now that’s absurd that Penn State has to lose like that
— 66 (@66sportstakes) May 27, 2023
Congrats to Duke's men lacrosse for making it to the national championship game…but the Duke player's foot was CLEARLY in the CREASE!!
Penn State fans and alumni should be absolutely LIVID that this play is NON-REVIEWABLE!!!
— Christopher Freeman (@crf2464) May 27, 2023
The end of the Duke-Penn St lacrosse semifinal is just brutal. The Duke player is clearly in the crease, there is no replay review, and Duke wins. Garbage to have a game and season end on a missed call. @NCAA needs to change the replay rules to get the call right.
— Rick Dorsey (@RickDorsey262) May 27, 2023
Penn State lacrosse just got jobbed. Duke’s player was clearly in the crease.
— Joe Pope (@popejf) May 27, 2023
Feel bad for Penn State lax. Duke wins in OT on a goal that shouldn’t have counted. Duke player’s foot was in the crease. (NCAA lacrosse needs replay on all goals.)
— Mike Waters (@MikeWatersSYR) May 27, 2023
That Duke/Penn State lacrosse game was amazing! But how bad is it that you can’t review that goal? @QKessenich
— Brother Bri (@thebrotherbri) May 27, 2023
Never watched lacrosse in my life before last week and now I’m ready to take the NCAA to court over this ILLEGAL goal that decided the Penn State-Duke game
— liz (@eedollmeyer) May 27, 2023
Wow, Penn State lacrosse gets robbed. Why can't that be reviewed? #PennState #NCAAMLAX #Duke
— Josh Folck (@JoshFolck) May 27, 2023
I’m the biggest @DukeMLAX fan you’ll meet… in no universe was that a goal.
I feel terrible for the @PennStateMLAX players going out like that — time for @NCAALAX to make a rule change ASAP!
— Henny Brower 🥃 (@pooleskis) May 27, 2023
