DURHAM, N.C. – The No. 8 Duke women's lacrosse team (9-5 4-5 ACC) is set for its last game of the regular season Friday against No. 1 North Carolina (14-0, 8-0 ACC). Opening draw is set for 5 p.m., on ACCNX with
Ryan Craig and Taylor Chumney Scott on the call. Friday also marks Senior Day for several Blue Devils.
OPENING DRAW
Friday will be the 41st meeting between the two programs. They have already met once this spring as the top-ranked Tar Heels came away with a 13-6 victory in Chapel Hill on Feb. 26.
No. 8 Duke recently defeated Virginia Tech, 13-7, Saturday afternoon in Koskinen Stadium. Four Blue Devils captured hat tricks as
Gabby Rosenzweig led the way with four points off of two goals and two assists.
LAST TIME OUT
The eighth-ranked Duke women's lacrosse team captured a 13-7 victory over Virginia Tech last Saturday afternoon in Koskinen Stadium.
Four Blue Devils recorded hat tricks as
Gabby Rosenzweig led the way with four points off of two goals and two assists.
Caroline DeBellis (3),
Katie Cronin (3),
Catriona Barry (2),
Abby Landry (1),
Olivia Carner (1) and
Maddie Jenner (1) scored goals for Duke alongside Rosenzweig as Barry (1), Landry (1) and
Catherine Cordrey (1) also dished out assists in the victory.
Once again, Duke dominated at the draw circle (17-5) as Jenner collected 12 of Duke's 17 draw controls. Jenner tallied eight of Duke's nine draws in the first half before Duke won each draw in the second half except for one. The Annapolis, Md., native now owns 324 draws for her career.
Defensively, Carner led the way with three caused turnovers while Barry had two. Carner and
Maddie Johnston each brought in two ground balls. Duke was flawless on clears, going 19-of-19.
In the cage for Duke was
Sophia LeRose, who registered nine saves on 13 shots on goal for a .563 save percentage.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
Friday marks the 41st meeting between the two programs. They previously met in February as the top-ranked Tar Heels came away with a 13-6 victory in Chapel Hill.
North Carolina has been ranked the No. 1 team in the nation for the entire spring season as they boast a 14-0 overall and 8-0 conference record.
The Tar Heels are among the national leaders in several statistical categories: scoring margin (1st, 10.58), scoring defense (2nd, 5.83), scoring offense (8th, 16.42), save percentage (2nd, .593), fewest turnovers committed (1st, 11.08) and shooting percentage (7th, .505).
North Carolina is led by Jamie Ortega (61 goals, 19 assists, 80 points), Katie Hoeg (28 goals, 42 assists, 70 points), and Scottie Rose Growney (35 goals, 17 assists, 52 points).
Goalkeeper Taylor Moreno leads the nation with a 5.84 GAA average as she boasts a .584 save percentage. North Carolina has held opponents to single-digit goals in 11 of 12 games this season.
KIMEL/LEVY LAUNCH LAX PROGRAMS
Head coaches
Kerstin Kimel and Jenny Levy are longtime close friends, as North Carolina and Duke each launched their women's lacrosse programs in 1996.
They represent two of the seven winningest head coaches in NCAA Division I women's lacrosse history (Levy 3rd, Kimel 6th).
DUKE HONORS ITS SENIORS FRIDAY
Following Friday's contest, the Duke women's lacrosse program will honor 13 seniors and graduate students on their accomplishments as a Blue Devil.
Duke will recognize graduate students
Catherine Cordrey,
Sam DeBellis,
Callie Humphrey and
Gabby Rosenzweig along with seniors
Catriona Barry,
Katie Cosgrove,
Katie Cronin,
Madison Dunk,
Chase Henriquez,
Natalie Kahn,
Abby Landry,
Mary Markwordt and
Gigi Vasile.
LOOKING AHEAD
Looking ahead, Duke will turn its attention to the postseason, first with the ACC Tournament slated for April 28, 29 and May 2 in Chapel Hill.
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