Women?s Lacrosse Listed No. 4 in IL Preseason Poll

DURHAM, N.C. – After returning to the NCAA semifinals for the first time in four years last spring, the Duke women's lacrosse team has been tabbed No. 4 in Inside Lacrosse's 2016 Face-Off Yearbook preseason rankings.

Reigning NCAA champion Maryland headlines the Division I preseason poll, followed by North Carolina, Syracuse, the Blue Devils and Northwestern. Five ACC squads appear within the top 10, including No. 9 Virginia and No. 10 Boston College.

Inside Lacrosse also released its list of Preseason All-Americans, with four Blue Devils appearing on the teams. Senior midfielder Maddy Acton, senior defender Claire Scarrone, junior defender Maura Schwitter and senior goalkeeper Kelsey Duryea all received honorable mention recognition heading into the 2016 campaign.

Duke posted a 16-5 record in 2015 under the direction of head coach Kerstin Kimel, who this fall received the Diane Geppi-Aikens Memorial Award from the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) and was named a finalist for Lacrosse Magazine's Best Women's Coach distinction. The Blue Devils concluded the season ranked fourth in the final IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse polls after making the program's seventh national semifinals appearance and first since 2011.

Duke lost eight seniors to graduation, including six starters, but will return a pair of second team All-ACC selections in Duryea and Scarrone. Both Blue Devils also garnered second team All-South Region recognition from the IWLCA a year ago, with Scarrone earning a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament team as well.

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