Kimel Announces 2005 Schedule, Team Captains

Oct. 7, 2004

Head women's lacrosse coach Kerstin Kimel announced the captains for the upcoming season today, in addition to releasing the 2005 team schedule. Seniors Stefanie Sparks and Katie Laschinger will captain the Blue Devils as they strive to reach the NCAA Tournament for the seventh-straight year.

Sparks, a member of the 2004-05 United States Development Team, comes into her senior campaign having started every game in her collegiate career. The Manchester, N.H. native tallied four goals and 11 assists last season while playing defense. She also picked up 29 groundballs and won 11 draw controls.

Laschinger started in all but one game in her sophomore and junior seasons combined after playing in all 18 and starting in 12 during her freshman campaign. She scored six goals and five assists in 2004 and picked up 20 groundballs. The midfielder from Lutherville, Md. also caused six turnovers for the team.

"Stefanie and Katie are both strong leaders on and off the field and have proven that they are capable of leading this team towards its goals," Kimel said. "Both are outstanding players with a great work ethic and love of the game

The senior co-captains will look to guide the young Blue Devil squad to a strong showing in 2005 against a number of the country's strongest teams, including eight squads that made it to last season's NCAA Tournament.

"The ACC has always been one of the strongest conferences in the country," Kimel said," but with the addition of Virginia Tech into the mix, we will be even stronger. Outside the conference, our schedule is just as strong. Half of the teams that we face in the regular season made it to the NCAA Tournament last year, including the last four national champions."

The bulk of Duke's nine-game home schedule comes in the first half of the season with contests against Duquesne (Feb. 18), Denver (Feb. 20), William & Mary (Mar. 4) and Richmond (Mar. 6) before facing off against ACC-foe North Carolina (Mar. 12) and 2003 NCAA champion and 2004 NCAA semifinalist Princeton (Mar. 16). Following six consecutive road games, the Blue Devils return home to play NCAA qualifier Loyola (Apr. 16) and conference-newcomer Virginia Tech (Apr. 22). The final home match of the season will take place on May 8 against tournament participant Dartmouth following the ACC Tournament.

The team's road schedule is a tough one as five of the seven squads the Blue Devils are set to face participated in last year's NCAA Tournament. Duke travels to Maryland early in the year on Feb. 26 before playing four home games. They return to the road on Mar. 19 against Georgetown, who defeated the Blue Devils in last year's tournament en route to the final four and then take on Vanderbilt and Stanford in Nashville, Tenn. on Mar. 24 and 26, respectively. The long road stretch continues as the Blue Devils face the defending national champion Virginia Cavaliers on Apr. 2 and tournament participants Notre Dame (Apr. 11) and Northwestern (Apr. 13).

M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. will be the site of the 2005 ACC Tournament from April 28-May 1. The tourney will be expanded as ACC-newcomer Virginia Tech joins in the competition.

Kimel enters her ninth season with the Blue Devils in 2005 after amassing a 96-61 record as a Blue Devil and a 100-69 career mark.