DWL Preseason Notebook: February 7

Duke women’s lacrosse practices before their first fall ball game on September 16, 2022.

Photo by: Dana Gentry / Duke Athletics

DWL Preseason Notebook: February 7

2/6/2023 12:18:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

2023 Schedule Tickets

DURHAM – With the 2023 season opener days away, take a look at some of the team's top storylines heading into Friday.

DUKE IN THE POLLS
The Duke women's lacrosse team will begin the season ranked No. 11 in the country, as announced in the ILWomen/IWLCA Division I Poll.

This season, the Blue Devils are slated to face five ranked opponents. Duke will go up against No. 1 North Carolina, No. 3 Boston College, No. 5 Syracuse, No. 13 Virginia and No. 16 Notre Dame.

Head coach Kerstin Kimel returns eight starters, including four graduate returners who will use their final year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID-19. Katie DeSimone, Olivia Carner, Maddie Jenner, Katie Keller, Anna Callahan and Eva Greco all tallied 30+ points a season ago and combined for 259 points on the offensive front. Duke also returns 2022 IWLCA All-Americans Cubby Biscardi, Carner and Jenner.

Jenner also returns to the draw circle this spring as arguably the most dominant in the sport. Over the course of her career, she has amassed 604 total draws as the nation's NCAA active career leader in draw controls per game (9.29) and total draw controls (604). She broke Duke's all-time draw control record in 2022 and is currently second in NCAA history and is 42 shy of breaking the NCAA career record.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONOREES
A quartet of Blue Devils were named a Preseason All-America honoree by Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine.

Inside Lacrosse
Maddie Jenner was selected to the first team, while Cubby Biscardi and Olivia Carner garnered spots on the third team, followed by Katie DeSimone as an honorable mention.

USA Lacrosse Magazine
Olivia Carner and Maddie Jenner were selected to the second team while Cubby Biscardi and Katie DeSimone were named honorable mention.

An attacker and draw specialist, Jenner returned to the circle in 2022 as the best in the sport at the draw and was spectacular all spring, finishing with 233 draws in 20 games. In Duke's win at High Point, Jenner grabbed a career-high 21, surpassing her previous best of 19. That is the most in a single game in Duke history, besting her sister Olivia's 20 in 2019. She was instrumental in helping control the tempo of the game by winning the draw and allowing Duke to hold possession. She also owned 30 points (28G, 2A) last season. Over the course of her career, she has amassed 604 total draws and is the nation's NCAA active career leader in draw controls per game (9.29) and total draw controls (604). She broke the NCAA single season draw control record last spring (233), Duke's all-time draw control record and is 42 shy of breaking the NCAA career record.

As a defender, Biscardi helped spearhead a tough Duke defense all season. Duke's scoring defense (11.00 GAA) was 26th nationally and third in the conference, while its 11.30 caused turnovers per game was sixth nationally. Individually, Biscardi was ranked 10th nationally with 2.10 caused turnovers per game and posted a career-high five caused turnover performance against Penn. She owns 72 career caused turnovers to rank 12th on Duke's all-time records list heading into her senior year.

As a midfielder, Carner took huge strides last season both offensively and defensively and was named to the Tewaaraton Watch List for her efforts. She finished third on the team with 50 points from 31 goals and 19 assists and shot .484. Defensively, she was second on the squad with an impressive 33 caused turnovers and also grabbed 23 draw controls and 20 ground balls. Against Pittsburgh and Penn, Carner was stellar for Duke on both sides of the field. She tallied a career-high six points (3G, 3A) and a career-high four caused turnovers against Pittsburgh. She followed that performance with three goals against Penn. As one of Duke's most complete players, she registered three or more points in 11 contests this season.

As an attacker, DeSimone had standout performances on the offensive front for the Blue Devils last season and looks to continue her success with the departure of All-American Catriona Barry. The native of Bay Shore, N.Y., finished the season second on the team with 85 points (60G, 25A) and a .508 shooting percentage. DeSimone ranked 26th nationally in total points during the spring and had 13 games with four or more points. She also picked up 19 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. In Duke's setback at No. 3 Syracuse, DeSimone dished a career-high five dimes, which tied for second on Duke's single-game records list.

BREAKING DOWN THE 2023 ROSTER
Graduate student: Sophia LeRose, Eva Greco, Anna Callahan, Maddie Jenner, Jordyn Bauer, Jane DiGregorio, Gillian Curran, Amanda Fedor
Redshirt senior: Maddie Johnston, Veronica Hineman
Senior: Caroline DeBellis, Virginia Oursler, Olivia Carner, Ainsley Thurston, Cubby Biscardi, Kay Conway, Stephanie Zempolich, Missy Biscardi, Olivia Navaroli, Lexi Schmalz, Shaye Fitzpatrick
Junior: Katie DeSimone, Katie Keller, Maddie McCorkle
Redshirt sophomore: Izzy Marsh, Julia Schwasnick
Sophomore: Mattie Shearer, Tess Gagliano, Kennedy Everson, Jane Charlton, Carly Bernstein, Ellie Lazzaretto, Reilly Traynor, Kerry Nease
Redshirt freshman: Kylie Kenny
Freshman: Eva Pronti, Madison Beale, Kaylie Mackiewicz, Sydney Smith, Maddie Holden, Ava Biancardi, Madison Drebing

FOUR RECOGNIZED IN INSIDE LACROSSE'S TOP 50 FOR 2023
Four returning 2022 Tewaaraton Watch List Blue Devil standouts earned Top 50 recognition by Inside Lacrosse ahead of the 2023 season.

Maddie Jenner headlined the group at No. 5, followed by No. 33 Cubby Biscardi, No. 36 Olivia Carner and No. 39 Katie DeSimone.

CHALLENGING SLATE ON THE HORIZON
This season, the Blue Devils are slated to face five ranked opponents. Duke will go up against No. 1 North Carolina, No. 3 Boston College, No. 5 Syracuse, No. 13 Virginia and No. 16 Notre Dame. The 16-game regular season spans from February 10 to April 20 and features four contests against opponents who were selected to the 2022 NCAA Championship field, including National Champion North Carolina and runner-up Boston College.

FOUR NATIONALLY-BROADCAST GAMES
ESPN announced its broadcast slate for the spring as the Blue Devils will be featured four times this spring.

The 11th-ranked Blue Devil women will make their ACCN debut Tuesday, March 14 against Yale in Koskinen Stadium before hosting Pitt 12 days later on Sunday, March 26. Duke will travel to Charlottesville, Va., to take on the Cavaliers Saturday, April 8 before its regular-season finale with North Carolina Thursday, April 20. All ACC Championship games will be broadcast on either ACCN or ESPNU.

Play-by-play commentators for women's coverage include Jay Alter, Drew Carter, Leah Secondo, Mark Dixon and Joe Beninati. Sheehan Stanwick-Burch, Dana Boyle, Rachael Becker DeCecco, Charlotte North and Courtney Connor Martinez will handle analyst duties.

SEASON/SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE
Duke fans can purchase single-game and season tickets now for each of the eight home games during the regular season. Women's season tickets are $32 and single-game tickets are $6.

Duke opens the season Friday, Feb. 10 against Navy at 2 p.m., in Koskinen Stadium.

For more information on Duke women's lacrosse, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeWLAX.

#GoDuke