Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Georgetown on May 10, 2025 , Loss , 12, to, 16
/
Final
Men's Lacrosse
12
vs Georgetown
16
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Five for Friday: Duke is Preseason No. 1; Practice Starts Saturday
1/15/2021 8:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Blue Devils to Hold First 2021 Practice Saturday
The Blue Devils hit the field for the first time in 2021 this Saturday, Jan. 16. All Duke players were back on campus by Jan. 9 and have spent the week going through a formal acclimation period where they can take part in strength and conditioning activities and individual lacrosse work.
Duke returns in the spring semester after a successful fall season that featured the inaugural season of the Duke Outdoor Lacrosse League. Peithos took home the title after all but two of the six games during D.O.L.L. season one were decided by a single goal.
Duke Tabbed Preseason No. 1 by US Lacrosse Magazine; A Stacked ACC
US Lacrosse Magazine has picked the Blue Devils as its preseason No. 1 team citing an offseason of impact transfers and the return of several program leaders. The media outlet wrote:
"There's a potential super team brewing in Durham. Michael Sowers, the ankle-breaking Princeton transfer and US Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year who stockpiled points with ease before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 season, joins an attack that will also welcome Brennan O'Neill, the top recruit in his class. Sowers' Princeton teammate, Phil Robertson, also transferred in to team with his brother, Joe, who is healthy after tearing his ACL last spring. Dyson Williams brings even more firepower to the table.
With Saint Joseph's transfer Mike Adler fortifying the defense in goal and Holy Cross transfer Dan O'Connell shoring up the faceoff, Duke has seemingly few weaknesses. Oh, and JT Giles-Harris, US Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason Defenseman of the Year, is back for a final season after toying with the idea of pursuing a football career."
Syracuse comes in at No. 2 after finishing the shortened 2020 season in the top spot. Virginia is fifth, North Carolina sixth and Notre Dame 10th to round out the ACC.
Sowers, Giles-Harris Garner Preseason Honors
Duke headlined US Lacrosse Magazine's preseason awards as JT Giles-Harris and Michael Sowers both picked up individual recognition as well as All-America recognition. Giles-Harris is the Preseason Defenseman of the Year and Sowers the Preseason Attackman of the Year. Sowers also was voted the overall Preseason Player of the Year.
Sowers is widely considered the best attackman in college lacrosse and arrives in Durham with 302 points to his name. He led the nation last season in points (9.4/gm) and assists (6.2/gm) last year. On the other end of the field, Giles-Harris is thought of as the best defenseman at the collegiate level. He enters his final season as a Blue Devil with 113 ground balls and 70 caused turnovers.
Blue Devils Excel in the Classroom
The Blue Devils were outstanding in the classroom this past fall, putting together a team GPA of 3.51 – the highest under head coach John Danowski. Fifty-four Blue Devils posted at least a 3.0 GPA, while 21 earned at least 3.5. Both are program highs since 2007.
Numbers to Watch
There are a host of benchmarks and records in sight for the Blue Devils as the team heads into the 2021 campaign.
199 – Duke head coach John Danowski needs just one more win to reach the 200-win benchmark as the leader of the Blue Devils. Danowski is the nation's leader in wins with 418 in his career, while only 11 active coaches have at least 200 wins to their names.
90 – Senior Joe Robertson returns from injury with 90 career goals in two seasons. He is on track to become the 21st Blue Devil to score 100 goals in his career. Robertson has 119 points overall to rank tied for 37th in program history.
88 – Luke Duprey, a 2014 All-American longstick midfielder, holds the Duke record for caused turnovers with 88. Giles-Harris enters 2021 needing just 19 to break the record. The 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year had 22 and 26 in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
181 – Michael Sowers has been an assist machine during his career, handing out 181 in his four seasons at Princeton. He was the top assist man in the nation in 2018 and 2020 with a 4.31/gm and 6.20/gm average, respectively. He was third in 2019 at 3.79/gm. Former Loyola standout Pat Spencer holds the NCAA record for assists with 231, meaning Sowers needs 51 to take over the top spot.
#GoDuke
The Blue Devils hit the field for the first time in 2021 this Saturday, Jan. 16. All Duke players were back on campus by Jan. 9 and have spent the week going through a formal acclimation period where they can take part in strength and conditioning activities and individual lacrosse work.
Duke returns in the spring semester after a successful fall season that featured the inaugural season of the Duke Outdoor Lacrosse League. Peithos took home the title after all but two of the six games during D.O.L.L. season one were decided by a single goal.
Duke Tabbed Preseason No. 1 by US Lacrosse Magazine; A Stacked ACC
US Lacrosse Magazine has picked the Blue Devils as its preseason No. 1 team citing an offseason of impact transfers and the return of several program leaders. The media outlet wrote:
"There's a potential super team brewing in Durham. Michael Sowers, the ankle-breaking Princeton transfer and US Lacrosse Magazine Preseason Player of the Year who stockpiled points with ease before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 season, joins an attack that will also welcome Brennan O'Neill, the top recruit in his class. Sowers' Princeton teammate, Phil Robertson, also transferred in to team with his brother, Joe, who is healthy after tearing his ACL last spring. Dyson Williams brings even more firepower to the table.
With Saint Joseph's transfer Mike Adler fortifying the defense in goal and Holy Cross transfer Dan O'Connell shoring up the faceoff, Duke has seemingly few weaknesses. Oh, and JT Giles-Harris, US Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason Defenseman of the Year, is back for a final season after toying with the idea of pursuing a football career."
Syracuse comes in at No. 2 after finishing the shortened 2020 season in the top spot. Virginia is fifth, North Carolina sixth and Notre Dame 10th to round out the ACC.
When asked to submit preseason rankings of the top teams and players, one D-I coach had a simple reply.
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) January 7, 2021
"https://t.co/H0mHMQAJbU has all that info." ??https://t.co/KKbr1KSp5t
Sowers, Giles-Harris Garner Preseason Honors
Duke headlined US Lacrosse Magazine's preseason awards as JT Giles-Harris and Michael Sowers both picked up individual recognition as well as All-America recognition. Giles-Harris is the Preseason Defenseman of the Year and Sowers the Preseason Attackman of the Year. Sowers also was voted the overall Preseason Player of the Year.
Sowers is widely considered the best attackman in college lacrosse and arrives in Durham with 302 points to his name. He led the nation last season in points (9.4/gm) and assists (6.2/gm) last year. On the other end of the field, Giles-Harris is thought of as the best defenseman at the collegiate level. He enters his final season as a Blue Devil with 113 ground balls and 70 caused turnovers.
??????? ??? ????
— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) January 8, 2021
Michael Sowers' new teammates are fired up to have his ankle-breaking talents on their side. But he's more than just an offensive dynamo.
"He is one of the most unselfish players that I have ever coached. It is never about him."https://t.co/FLOTqemz3n
Blue Devils Excel in the Classroom
The Blue Devils were outstanding in the classroom this past fall, putting together a team GPA of 3.51 – the highest under head coach John Danowski. Fifty-four Blue Devils posted at least a 3.0 GPA, while 21 earned at least 3.5. Both are program highs since 2007.
Numbers to Watch
There are a host of benchmarks and records in sight for the Blue Devils as the team heads into the 2021 campaign.
199 – Duke head coach John Danowski needs just one more win to reach the 200-win benchmark as the leader of the Blue Devils. Danowski is the nation's leader in wins with 418 in his career, while only 11 active coaches have at least 200 wins to their names.
90 – Senior Joe Robertson returns from injury with 90 career goals in two seasons. He is on track to become the 21st Blue Devil to score 100 goals in his career. Robertson has 119 points overall to rank tied for 37th in program history.
88 – Luke Duprey, a 2014 All-American longstick midfielder, holds the Duke record for caused turnovers with 88. Giles-Harris enters 2021 needing just 19 to break the record. The 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year had 22 and 26 in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
181 – Michael Sowers has been an assist machine during his career, handing out 181 in his four seasons at Princeton. He was the top assist man in the nation in 2018 and 2020 with a 4.31/gm and 6.20/gm average, respectively. He was third in 2019 at 3.79/gm. Former Loyola standout Pat Spencer holds the NCAA record for assists with 231, meaning Sowers needs 51 to take over the top spot.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Lacrosse
M
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's Lacrosse
A
/ Men's LacrosseDuke Men's Lacrosse: Excellence on and off the field defined
Friday, August 29
Duke Men's Lacrosse Recruiting Video
Friday, August 29
Andrew McAdorey Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
John Danowski Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
