WLax: Duke 2016 Lacrosse Schedule Has Nine Tournament Teams

Duke will host eight games at Koskinen Stadium during the 2016 campaign, including tilts against ACC opponents Boston College, Louisville and Virginia. The squad’s eight road contests are highlighted by a venture to the West Coast to face Southern California in the US Lacrosse Orange County Winter Invitational, as well as an inaugural trip to Columbia and visits to Navy and Villanova.

Kimel’s team will begin the spring with home scrimmages against Coastal Carolina and William & Mary Jan. 30. The Blue Devils officially kick off the 2016 season at home, welcoming fourth-year program Campbell to Koskinen in the Feb. 4 opener before hosting Northwestern Feb. 7. Duke topped the Wildcats, 15-9, last February in Chicago for their first win over the program since 2006.

The remainder of February will see the Blue Devils travel to Navy Feb. 13 and head to Costa Mesa, Calif., Feb. 20 to take on the Trojans. The squads faced off last season in the NCAA second round in Durham, with Duke advancing on a 17-9 victory. The Blue Devils close out the month at home, as Elon and Penn visit Koskinen Feb. 25 and 28, respectively.

After opening ACC play at Virginia Tech March 5, Duke returns to Durham for a two-game home stand against Georgetown March 9 and Louisville March 12. The Blue Devils are 15-8 historically against the Hoyas, and earned their second victory against the Cardinals last spring in a gritty 10-8 road win that marked the 250th for the program. Duke is slated to visit Columbia March 16 to square off against the Lions for the first time in program history. The squad will also travel to Villanova March 19, followed by a home contest against Virginia March 26.

April will feature a trip to the Carrier Dome to face the Orange April 3, as well as a home contest against Boston College April 9. The Blue Devils outlasted the third-ranked Eagles in last season’s meeting, 13-8. Additional ACC action includes road games at Notre Dame April 16 and North Carolina April 23.

Duke returns to Blacksburg April 28-May 1 for the 2016 ACC Championship.

Following a 2015 season that saw the Blue Devils compile a 16-5 ledger en route to reaching the NCAA semifinals, Duke will be in pursuit of the program’s 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this spring. The squad will return 27 letterwinners and seven starters in 2016, including a pair of second team All-South Region and All-ACC selections in goalkeeper Kelsey Duryea and defender Claire Scarrone.

 Sat., January 30    W&M/COASTAL CAROLINA (scrim.)                   12:00 pm
Thur., February 4   CAMPBELL                      DUKE               4:00 pm
Sun., February 7    NORTHWESTERN                  DUKE              12:00 pm
Sat., February 13   Navy                          Annapolis, MD      1:00 pm
Sat., February 20   USC                           Orange County, CA  4:00 pm
Thur., February 25  ELON                          DUKE               4:00 pm
Sun., February 28   PENN                          DUKE               1:00 pm
Sat., March 5       Virginia Tech                 Blacksburg, VA     1:00 pm
Wed., March 9       GEORGETOWN                    DUKE               3:00 pm
Sat., March 12      LOUISVILLE                    DUKE               1:00 pm
Wed., March 16      Columbia                      New York, NY       4:00 pm
Sat., March 19      Villanova                     Villanova, PA     12:00 pm
Sat., March 26      VIRGINIA                      DUKE               3:30 pm
Sun., April 3       Syracuse                      Syracuse, NY      12:00 pm
Sat., April 9       BOSTON COLLEGE                DUKE              12:00 pm
Sat. April 16       Notre Dame                    South Bend, IN     1:00 pm
Sat. April 23       North Carolina                Chapel Hill, NC    1:00 pm
Thur., April 28     ACC Quarterfinals             Blacksburg, VA
Fri., April 29      ACC Semifinals                Blacksburg, VA
Sun, April 30       ACC Championship              Blacksburg, VA 

2015-12-18