Completed Event: Women's Lacrosse versus #1 North Carolina on April 22, 2026 , Loss , 11, to, 15
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Final
Women's Lacrosse
11
vs #1 North Carolina
15
Duke Women's Lacrosse Begins Practice; Has One Thing In Mind
2/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
DURHAM, N.C. -- After advancing to their first ever NCAA Final Four
last season, the Duke University women's lacrosse team has their sights
set on one thing...a National Championship.
Soulier ranked second on the 99 squad with 43 points and Kimel is
looking for more in 2000, "Kate has done a great job for us the past two
years. Her best strength is her leadership. She is also someone who
wants the ball in her stick in the crucial times. She scored two
game-winning goals last season. She is the emotional leader for us on
the season."
In goal this season will be a battle between two returning players. Senior Shannon Chaney (Oklahoma City, OK) and sophomore Kristen Foster (Ellicott City, Md.) both will compete for playing time in 2000. Chaney has started 48 matches in her three years at Duke, while totaling a .570 save percentage. Foster came in as a freshman last season and played in eight matches with a .566 save percentage.
The Blue Devils return 19 letterwinners off last year's 13-5 team, which finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation. Duke returns nine starters and their top nine scorers from last year, who scored a Blue Devil record 210 goals. Duke did lose three key defensive players in Sandy Johnston, Karen Sutton, and Meghan McLaughlin, who started a combined 180 matches in their career, but have four returning players and welcome one highly touted freshman to replace them.
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| Kerstin Kimel |
"I think this year by far has the potential to be our best season on paper," said head coach Kerstin Kimel. "I think though the three players we lost are pretty significant losses. The three of them started almost every game for four years on defense for us. They were our core group on the field."
For a team who returns their top nine scorers, which is 96% of their scoring from 1999, the Blue Devils should be one, if not the most prolific offensive team in the nation in 2000.
Leading the way on offense is two-time All-America Tricia Martin. Martin, a 5-7 attacker out of Huntington, NY, has helped bring Duke lacrosse to the spotlight after scoring 124 goals, assisting on 66, and totaling 190 points in her career, which are all ACC records. She is a two-time All-America and All-ACC selection.
"One of the things Tricia has done for us each year is she has realized the need to improve the different facets of her game," said Kimel. "When she came here she was a strong attacker. You cannot be a great player at the Division I level if you don't work on all facets of your game. I think she has become a better defender and has gotten more fit so she can be more of a factor in the midfield. This has the potential to be a great year for her and a real special senior season."
Other players that will join Martin on attack will be Kristen McElduff (Yorktown, NY), Erin O'Shaughnessy (Englewood, Co.), Kelly Dirks (Annapolis, Md.), Lauren Gallagher (West Chester, Pa.), Francoise Gordon (Baltimore, Md.), and Jessica Bennett (Gladstone, NJ). Dirks will be looked upon to provide another stellar season after posting 36 goals and six assists as a freshman. The 36 goals ranked second on the team. Gordon played in 14 of the 18 matches last season as a freshman, while totaling seven goals.
Anchoring the midfield will be junior's Kate Soulier (Chadds Ford, Pa.) and Courtney Rodgers (Potomic, Md.), and sophomore Kate Kaiser (Cockeysville, Md.). All three of these players recorded 20 or more goals scored last season and a total of 100 points. They will be looked upon to once again lead the Blue Devil's in 2000.
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| Kate Soulier |
Other returnees at the midfield slot for the Blue Devils are Amy Noble (Severna Park, Md.), Claire Finn (Newton, Ma.), Claire Sullivan (Washington, D.C.), Ashley Wick (San Francisco, Ca.), Keri Dunn (Scituate, Ma.).
Sullivan started all 18 matches last season as a freshman and recorded 11 goals and eight assists, Noble started 16-of-18 matches, while totaling 18 points, Finn started 12-of-17 matches with nine goals, and Wick recorded 10 points.
The Blue Devils welcome three newcomers in the midfield as Amanda Hughes (N.Syracuse, N.Y.), Meg Barnet (Tea Tree Gully, S.Australia), and Carrie Starr (Old Greenwich, CT) all are freshmen who will battle for time. Barnet played on the Under-19 World Cup team with other incoming freshmen Lauren Gallagher and Meghan Walters.
The defense will have a new look in 2000 after losing three starters. Anchoring the backfield will be returnees Emily Hickman (Baltimore, Md.), Katie Regan (Manhasset, NY), Kristin Seith (Annandale, Va.), Barbara Preston (Wilmington, DE), and Allison Michels (Baltimore, Md.). All three players have 121 matches of experience under their belt.
Meghan Walters (Wyndmoor, Pa.) is the lone freshman on the defensive squad. She was an All-America selection at William Penn Charter School and played on the United States under-19 National Team.
"I think it is easier to put new faces together on defense and have them gel rather than on offense," said Kimel. "I think it will help us that we have almost everyone back."
| Shannon Chaney |
In goal this season will be a battle between two returning players. Senior Shannon Chaney (Oklahoma City, OK) and sophomore Kristen Foster (Ellicott City, Md.) both will compete for playing time in 2000. Chaney has started 48 matches in her three years at Duke, while totaling a .570 save percentage. Foster came in as a freshman last season and played in eight matches with a .566 save percentage.
="" ultimately="" src="http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/duke/sports/w-lacros/duwlacchaneyact.jpg" anytime,"="" what="" two="" coach="" said="" p="" As="" at="" are="" of="" want="" people="" to="" Kimel.="" <="" you="" capable="" who=""> Duke will kick off their 2000 campaign on February 29 at Virginia Tech and post nine different teams on the schedule who were ranked in the final 1999 IWLCA rankings.
Kimel on the 2000 schedule, "I think we definitely play one of the toughest schedules in the country. Our conference schedule alone it is one of the toughest in the nation. Three out of the four ACC teams have been to the NCAA Final Four the last two years in a row; and an ACC team has won eight of the last 10 National Championships. We won't be in a position to take any team for granted, we will have to work twice as hard if we want to return to the Final Four in 2000."
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/ Women's LacrosseAndie Smith, Duke | Interview | CGN
Thursday, November 13
Kerstin Kimel James Madison Postgame Press Conference 5-9
Friday, May 09
Kerstin Kimel Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
Kerry Nease Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
