Completed Event: Women's Lacrosse at #4 Florida on May 15, 2025 , Loss , 9, to, 11
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Final
Women's Lacrosse
9
at #4 Florida
11
Women’s Lacrosse Midseason Notebook: In Full Swing
3/5/2020 4:15:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
DURHAM, N.C. – With the Duke women's lacrosse team being just over a third of the way into its 2020 campaign, the Blue Devils rank nationally in a multitude of statistical categories on both sides of the ball.
In preparation for Duke's fourth top-20 opponent in eight games, hear from assistant coaches Brooke Griffin and Nick Williams on the program's success in all three phases of the game: offense, draw control and defense.
The Offense:
The Blue Devils have enjoyed a plethora of success in the attacking third this season, ranking among the best in the nation in scoring offense, shots per game, shots on goal per game and points per game. Duke opened the season scoring 20+ goals in each of its first three outings, the first time in program history that the Blue Devils have achieved that feat in three consecutive games.
"This year we are a dynamic offense and we are playing as a unit," Griffin said. "The biggest thing is that we don't have one superstar on our team. We are generating so much because we are playing as a team. It's a seven-man threat out there and everyone is stepping up and doing their job since it's not just one person."
Along with scoring, Duke has taken the most shots and put the most shots on goal of any ACC team this season, a mark that ranks fourth in the country in both categories. Griffin and the staff continuously look for new ways to keep the team loose.
"We try to be creative," Griffin added. "I bring milk cartons out here and they have to shoot at the cartons, just to keep it fun and lighthearted."
Duke's offense has been a balanced attack this season as 16 players have recorded at least one of the Blue Devils' 127 goals. Duke is the only team in the ACC to have six players with 10+ goals: Catriona Barry – 18, Catherine Cordrey – 14, Katie Cronin – 13, Abby Landry – 12, Caroline DeBellis – 12 and Maddie Jenner – 12.
"Everyone is stepping up this year and they know everyone has to shoot, everyone has to score," Griffin continued. "Since we are playing as a unit, it is dependent on what the defense does and how we adjust and have those games as a team. It's just playing as a unit and doing a really good job at that."
The Draw:
After ranking among national leaders in draw control and draw control percentage last season, Duke has continued to dominate in the circle, leading the ACC in both categories and sitting fourth in the nation in draw controls per game at 18.86. Individually, sophomore Jenner leads the country with 10.71 draw controls per game (10.71).
"It is hands down the most important thing on the team" Griffin said of the draw control. "It is how we have so many possessions and so many shots on the team. She [Jenner] is the best in the country at what she does and allows us to have those possessions and shots. She is doing such a great job, along with the girls on the circle, too."
The Defense:
Senior Callie Humphrey has been stellar for the Duke defense this season. The Summit, N.J., native has 13 caused turnovers, 16 ground balls and is climbing the all-time CTO career chart at Duke. She currently sits 15th as a Blue Devil with 66 caused turnovers and is tied for first in the ACC with 1.71 caused turnovers per game.
"Callie is our defensive leader out there," Williams said. "She's been there the longest, has the most experience and understands situations and games. She is motivating by her voice on the field and is like a second coach on the field, which makes us a better defense."
In total, Duke has caused 91 turnovers through seven games. Those 91 CTOs rank tied with Virginia Tech for top of the ACC and fourth nationally. In addition, nine Blue Devils have five or more caused turnovers.
"It's the athletes we have," Williams said when asked about the caused turnover success. "Kerstin [Kimel] has done such a great job recruiting tremendous athletes here. It has nothing to do with the system or the coaching, it's that these kids are athletes and they can run around and make plays. They trust each other. They know when people are going to have their backs on the slides and second slides so they can be a little more aggressive with checks."
Williams credits much of the success of the defense to the offense and midfield defending as well after a change of possession. Duke's four starting attackers – DeBellis, Cordrey, Jenner and Anna Callahan – have accounted for 19 causes this season.
"Honestly, a lot of it is helping in our ride. Our attackers are getting back, they are getting knockdowns, they are getting the ball back in our rides. If we don't have to play defense because we've already gotten a turnover, then it makes it a whole lot easier for us."
The Blue Devils next return to Koskinen Stadium on Saturday to kick off a five-game home stretch, beginning with No. 12 Virginia. Opening draw is at 1 p.m., and will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
#GoDuke
In preparation for Duke's fourth top-20 opponent in eight games, hear from assistant coaches Brooke Griffin and Nick Williams on the program's success in all three phases of the game: offense, draw control and defense.
The Offense:
The Blue Devils have enjoyed a plethora of success in the attacking third this season, ranking among the best in the nation in scoring offense, shots per game, shots on goal per game and points per game. Duke opened the season scoring 20+ goals in each of its first three outings, the first time in program history that the Blue Devils have achieved that feat in three consecutive games.
"This year we are a dynamic offense and we are playing as a unit," Griffin said. "The biggest thing is that we don't have one superstar on our team. We are generating so much because we are playing as a team. It's a seven-man threat out there and everyone is stepping up and doing their job since it's not just one person."
Along with scoring, Duke has taken the most shots and put the most shots on goal of any ACC team this season, a mark that ranks fourth in the country in both categories. Griffin and the staff continuously look for new ways to keep the team loose.
"We try to be creative," Griffin added. "I bring milk cartons out here and they have to shoot at the cartons, just to keep it fun and lighthearted."
Duke's offense has been a balanced attack this season as 16 players have recorded at least one of the Blue Devils' 127 goals. Duke is the only team in the ACC to have six players with 10+ goals: Catriona Barry – 18, Catherine Cordrey – 14, Katie Cronin – 13, Abby Landry – 12, Caroline DeBellis – 12 and Maddie Jenner – 12.
"Everyone is stepping up this year and they know everyone has to shoot, everyone has to score," Griffin continued. "Since we are playing as a unit, it is dependent on what the defense does and how we adjust and have those games as a team. It's just playing as a unit and doing a really good job at that."
The Draw:
After ranking among national leaders in draw control and draw control percentage last season, Duke has continued to dominate in the circle, leading the ACC in both categories and sitting fourth in the nation in draw controls per game at 18.86. Individually, sophomore Jenner leads the country with 10.71 draw controls per game (10.71).
"It is hands down the most important thing on the team" Griffin said of the draw control. "It is how we have so many possessions and so many shots on the team. She [Jenner] is the best in the country at what she does and allows us to have those possessions and shots. She is doing such a great job, along with the girls on the circle, too."
The Defense:
Senior Callie Humphrey has been stellar for the Duke defense this season. The Summit, N.J., native has 13 caused turnovers, 16 ground balls and is climbing the all-time CTO career chart at Duke. She currently sits 15th as a Blue Devil with 66 caused turnovers and is tied for first in the ACC with 1.71 caused turnovers per game.
"Callie is our defensive leader out there," Williams said. "She's been there the longest, has the most experience and understands situations and games. She is motivating by her voice on the field and is like a second coach on the field, which makes us a better defense."
In total, Duke has caused 91 turnovers through seven games. Those 91 CTOs rank tied with Virginia Tech for top of the ACC and fourth nationally. In addition, nine Blue Devils have five or more caused turnovers.
"It's the athletes we have," Williams said when asked about the caused turnover success. "Kerstin [Kimel] has done such a great job recruiting tremendous athletes here. It has nothing to do with the system or the coaching, it's that these kids are athletes and they can run around and make plays. They trust each other. They know when people are going to have their backs on the slides and second slides so they can be a little more aggressive with checks."
Williams credits much of the success of the defense to the offense and midfield defending as well after a change of possession. Duke's four starting attackers – DeBellis, Cordrey, Jenner and Anna Callahan – have accounted for 19 causes this season.
"Honestly, a lot of it is helping in our ride. Our attackers are getting back, they are getting knockdowns, they are getting the ball back in our rides. If we don't have to play defense because we've already gotten a turnover, then it makes it a whole lot easier for us."
The Blue Devils next return to Koskinen Stadium on Saturday to kick off a five-game home stretch, beginning with No. 12 Virginia. Opening draw is at 1 p.m., and will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
#GoDuke
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