Women's Lacrosse to Tackle UNC in ACC Championships

4/19/2000 1:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse

By: Duke Sports Information

ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS ** APRIL 22-23
SEMIFINALS ** APRIL 22 AT 1:00 PM
#6 North Carolina (9-4) vs. #3 Duke (9-3)
College Park, MD ** Ludwig Field

#3 DUKE WILL FACE #6 UNC SATURDAY
The #3 ranked Duke Blue Devils will take on #6 North Carolina in the semifinal round of the ACC Championships April 22 at 1:00 PM. Earlier this season Duke knocked off North Carolina for the first time ever in Chapel Hill, N.C. as the Blue Devils won a tight one 8-7. Duke owns an overall 0-3 record in ACC Tournament matches with two losses coming to Virginia and one against Maryland. The Blue Devils are the No. 4 seed while UNC is the No. 1 seed. Duke and UNC have never met in ACC Tournament play. This marks the second time Duke has been a No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament. The last time was the first year of the ACC Tournament in 1997 as Duke lost 9-6 to the No. 3 seed Virginia.

LOOKING BACK AT THE UNC MATCH IN MARCH
Duke finally got their first win at North Carolina as the Blue Devils downed the Tarheels 8-7 in Chapel Hill, N.C. on March 29. In the match sophomore Kate Kaiser led Duke with three goals and sophomore Kelly Dirks added two goals. Tricia Martin, Courtney Rodgers, and Kate Soulier each added goals. Duke outshot UNC 23-18 and controlled 11 draw controls. Senior Shannon Chaney picked up the win in goal for Duke. Blue Devil freshman Meghan Walters held UNC leading scorer Kellie Thompson to zero goals and zero assists in the contest.

NOTING THE BLUE DEVILS
The Blue Devils have won six of the last seven matches dating back to March 15. Duke is currently on their way to shatter the most goals in a season record by a Blue Devil team (210). The Blue Devils have scored 158 goals in 12 matches and if they keep their 13.2 goals per game and fare well in the ACC and NCAA Tournament the Blue Devils will have a chance to break the record. Duke's 13.2 goals per game ranks second in the ACC.

Duke's Tricia Martin ranks third in the ACC in goals per game (2.58) and Kate Kaiser ranks fourth (2.42). Kate Soulier ranks fourth in the ACC in assists per game (1.25). Kaiser also ranks fifth in ground balls (2.92). Sophomore goalkeeper Kristen Foster leads the ACC in save percentage (.612) and goals against average (6.33).

CHANEY NAMED ACC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Duke women's lacrosse goalie Shannon Chaney has been named ACC Player of the Week on Monday, after leading Duke to two road victories on the week.

The senior native of Oklahoma City, Okla. came up huge on Wednesday as #3 Duke knocked off #5 North Carolina in Chapel Hill for the first time ever. In the match she recorded 12 saves and allowed only seven goals in 60 minutes, for a .632 save percentage, as she held North Carolina to three-fewer goals than its season average in the 8-7 win. Chaney followed up the UNC win with another solid 30 minutes in net against 20th-ranked William & Mary on Saturday as she posted seven saves, allowed four goals, and recorded one forced turnover in the contest. Duke ended the match with an 18-9 victory over the Tribe. For the week Chaney recorded 19 saves and allowed only 11 goals for an impressive .633 save percentage and a 7.33 goals against average.

IN THE RANKINGS
Duke has been ranked no lower than No. 5 this season with most of the season being ranked No. 2-4. Going into the ACC Tournament Duke is ranked No. 3.

The ACC continues to dominate the rankings with Maryland (No.1), North Carolina (No. 6), and Virginia (No. 8).

HIGH SCORING DEVILS
After 12 matches, the Blue Devils have six players who have scored 12 or more goals. Tricia Martin leads the team with 31, Kate Kaiser is second with 29, Kelly Dirks third with 23, Lauren Gallagher (17), Kate Soulier (15), and Courtney Rodgers (12).

Gallagher, a freshman native of West Chester, Pa., has made a huge impact for Duke so far starting all 12 matches. She is fourth on the team in goals scored (17) and second in assists (10). As a team Duke has outscored opponents 158-88 and is averaging 13.2 goals per match this season. Duke has scored 93 goals in the first half and 65 goals in the second half.

HEAD COACH KERSTIN KIMEL
Named the ACC Coach of the Year in 1998, Kerstin Kimel is currently in her fifth year at the helm of the Blue Devil program and her sixth as a collegiate head coach. She owns a 43-35 record during her Duke career and a 47-43 mark overall.

After beginning the Duke program in 1996 and recording 11 wins in the first two seasons, Kimel has sparked the Blue Devils to 32 victories over the last three seasons and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. Her 1999 squad advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in the school history. So far this season in 2000 Duke has been ranked no lower than No. 5 with a 9-3 record. Prior to joining the Duke staff, Kimel served as the head coach at Davidson for one season.

A native of Havertown, Pa., Kimel was a two-time All-America at Maryland and led the Terrapins to four consecutive Final Four appearances as well as the 1992 NCAA National Championship. A 1992 NCAA All-Tournament Team selection, she was named the 1993 National Defensive Player of the Year. She graduated from Maryland in 1993.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Duke has once again scheduled the highest competition in their 2000 slate. So far this season the Blue Devils have faced four top 10 opponents and nine ranked opponents.

Some of the opponents Duke has faced are No. 1 Maryland, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 6 Georgetown, No. 8 Virginia, No. 11 Princeton (now No. 2), and No. 14 Yale.

FRESHMEN MAKING AN IMPACT
The Blue Devils have welcomed two freshmen to the lineup this season with open arms. Lauren Gallagher and Meghan Walters have each seen action in all 12 matches this season with Gallagher starting all 12 and Walters starting seven.

Gallagher has been huge on the offensive end scoring 17 goals and assisting on 10 for 27 points. She has taken 46 shots and played in 546.76 minutes.

Walters is Duke's defensive stopper and each and every match is teamed up against the opponent's top scorer. She held Maryland's Jen Adams to three goals and two assists, held North Carolina's Kellie Thompson to no goals and no assists, and held Virginia's Jamie Haas to no goals and no assists.

DUKE'S DEFENSE
As a team Duke leads the ACC with a 7.33 goals per game average. So far this season Duke has held oppenents to seven or fewer goals in seven matches.

The defense was the big factor coming into the season after losing some key players but Amy Noble, Emily Hickman, Allison Michels, and Meghan Walters (as well as others) have stepped up their play and stopped opponents from scoring.

MATCH TIME CHANGED VS. JMU
The time for the James Madison match on April 25 has been changed to 3:00 PM from 6:00 PM. It will be senior day for five Duke seniors.

IRON DUKES
So far this season eight Duke players have started all nine matches. Tricia Martin, Kelly Dirks, Kate Kaiser, Lauren Gallagher, Courtney Rogers, Claire Sullivan, Amy Noble, and Emily Hickman.

DIARY ON THE WEB
Senior defenseman Emily Hickman is writing a diary on the web. Each week you can get her perspective on upcoming matches, past results, and up close information on one of Duke's captains.

MARTIN NAMED DIVISION I PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Duke women's lacrosse senior forward Tricia Martin was named Warrior/Inside Lacrosse Women's Division I Player of the Week on March 27.

Martin, a native of Huntington, N.Y., tallied seven goals and two assists in leading Duke to a pair of victories over nationally ranked opponents. On Wednesday she scored two goals and assisted on two as Duke defeated #18 Vanderbilt (13-7).

Then, on Saturday she scored five goals against #6 Georgetown as Duke came away with a 13-9 victory. Two of the goals against Georgetown came in the final three minutes of the first half, which gave Duke a 6-4 halftime lead.

THE CAPTAINS
The captains for the 2000 Duke women's lacrosse squad are Katie Regan, Kate Soulier, Tricia Martin, and Emily Hickman.


DUKE IN THE NCAA STATISTICS
SCORING OFFENSE
9. Duke 13.17
SCORING DEFENSE
10. Duke 7.33
SCORING MARGIN
8. Duke 5.83
WINNING PERCENTAGE
10. Duke .750

DUKE IN THE ACC STATISTICS
GOALS
3. Tricia Martin 2.58
4. Kate Kaiser 2.42
ASSISTS
4. Kate Soulier 1.25
SAVE PERCENTAGE
1. Kristen Foster .612
GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE
1. Kristen Foster 6.33
TEAM SCORING
2. Duke 13.17
TEAM DEFENSE
1. Duke 7.33

DUKE CAREER CHART UPDATES
GOALS
 1. Tricia Martin (1997-pre) 155*
 2. Meghan McLaughlin (1996-99) 61
 3. Kate Soulier (1998-pre) 62
 4. Kelly Dirks (1999-pre) 59
 5. Kate Kaiser (1999-pre) 54
 6. Courtney Rodgers (1998-pre) 52

ASSISTS
 1. Tricia Martin (1997-pre) 74
 2. Kate Soulier (1998-pre) 49
 3. Courtney Rodgers (1998-pre) 23
 4. Kendra Basner (1996-99) 18
 5. Megan McLaughlin (1996-99) 14
    Kristin Lonergan (1996-98) 14
    Kelly Dirks (1999-pre) 14

POINTS
 1. Tricia Martin (1997-pre) 229
 2. Kate Soulier (1998-pre) 111
 3. Meghan McLaughlin (1996-99) 75
    Courtney Rodgers (1998-pre) 75
 5. Kelly Dirks (1999-pre) 73

SHOTS
 1. Tricia Martin (1997-pre) 354
 2. Meghan McLaughlin (1996-99) 174
 3. Kate Soulier (1998-pre) 158
 4. Kelly Dirks (1999-pre) 139
 5. Courtney Rodgers (1998-pre) 139
*  ACC Career Record

DUKE IN THE ACC TOURNAMENT
1997
vs. Maryland, L 14-4
1998
at Virginia, L 13-3
1999
vs. Virginia, L 10-9

2000 Schedule/Results
Date Opponent Result
Feb.29 at #23 Virginia Tech W 17-6
Mar. 3 #1 Maryland* L 10-14
Mar. 5 Johns Hopkins W 16-6
Mar. 12 at Davidson W 13-2
Mar. 15 at #11 Princeton L 10-11
Mar. 17 at Hofstra ppd. snow
Mar. 22 #18 Vanderbilt W 13-7
Mar. 25 #6 Georgetown W 13-9
Mar. 29 at #5 North Carolina* W 8-7
Apr. 1 at #20 William & Mary W 18-9
Apr. 8 #8 Virginia* L 8-10
Apr. 13  Notre Dame W 15-3
Apr. 16 #14 Yale W 17-4
Apr. 22 vs. North Carolina& 1:00 PM
Apr. 25 James Madison 3:00 PM
Apr. 28 at Dartmouth 3:00 PM
May 11 First Round NCAA's TBA
May 14 Second Round NCAA's TBA
May 19 NCAA Final Four TBA
May 21 NCAA Championships TBA


Bold Denotes Home Matches
at Koskinen Stadium
* Denotes Conference Match
& ACC Tournament at Maryland