No. 11 Duke Opens Season Friday Against Navy

Friday, February 10

Durham, N.C.

2 PM

Duke University

Navy

Tickets

Duke Women’s Lacrosse takes on the University of Pennsylvania Quakers at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, North Carolina on March 13, 2022.

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

No. 11 Duke Opens Season Friday Against Navy

2/9/2023 1:50:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse

Game Notes (PDF)Live Stats Watch Digital Game Program Tickets

DURHAM – The No. 11 Duke women's lacrosse team opens the 2023 slate Friday against Navy. Opening draw is set for 2 p.m., in Koskinen Stadium.

OPENING DRAW
Duke and Navy meet for the seventh time in program history as the Blue Devils lead the all-time series, 5-1. Duke won five consecutive before dropping a 16-15 decision at No. 15 Navy on Feb. 16, 2020. Duke finished the 2022 season 16-4 (6-2 ACC) and made its 21st appearance at the NCAA Tournament, where it advanced to the second round.

A LOOK BACK
The Duke women's lacrosse team finished the 2022 season 16-4 (6-2 ACC) and made its 21st appearance at the NCAA Tournament, where it advanced to the second round. 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 welcomes back 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.

SCOUTING THE MIDSHIPMEN
Navy tallied a 15-5 record a season ago that included a trip to the Patriot League Championship game. Navy was picked to finish third in the Patriot League for the 2023 campaign. Erin Carson (defense) and Leelee Denton (attack) were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League. Carson tallied 24 ground balls and 20 caused turnovers a season ago while Denton notched 38 points (32G, 6A) and 15 ground balls. Charlotte Ryan also returns this season after being fourth on the team in total points last spring. The Mids look to fill a hole in goal after losing Jo Torres, who saw 1,118 minutes between the pipes and boasted a 9.12 GAA and a .477 save percentage.

COACHING POWERHOUSES
Friday's contest features two coaching powerhouses in Duke's Kerstin Kimel and Navy's Cindy Timchal. The duo have combined for 70 years in Division I athletics and has set the standard for the lacrosse world on and off the field. Timchal enters her 41st year as a women's lacrosse head coach and is the all-time winningest coach in Division I history with 550 wins. Kimel has been at the helm of the Blue Devils for 28 years and owns 332 victories to rank fifth among active coaches. Timchal coached Kimel at Maryland from 1991-93 when Timchal was head coach of the Terrapins.

GRIFFIN FAMILY AFFAIR
Duke assistant coach Brooke Griffin's sister, Brindi, is currently an assistant coach at Navy. Brindi comes to Annapolis after spending five years at Maryland and helped lead the Terrapins to two national championships and five Big Ten crowns. She finished her career with 199 points (132G, 67A), 62 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers and 10 draw controls.

SEASON-OPENING DUBS
Duke has seen great success in its season openers throughout the years and is 26-1 all-time. Its only loss was in the first year of the program in 1996.

UP NEXT
Duke will make the short trip to Davidson to take on the Wildcats Wednesday, Feb. 15. Opening draw is set for 4:30 p.m., on ESPN+.

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

#GoDuke