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burnspbesq
02-04-2016, 10:34 AM
The Duke women, coming off a Final Four appearance in 2015, open the 2016 season against Campbell at 4:00 p.m. at Koskinen.

The team lost something like 70 percent of its scoring to graduation, but there is no shortage of weaponry, with sophomores Kyra Harney and Maddie Crutchfield and seniors Maddy Acton and Kelci Smesko (back from a hip injury that erased her 2015 season) leading the way. Freshmen Olivia Jenner, a 50-goal scorer as a senior at McDonough (Baltimore, MD), and Ellie Majure, the Washington Post all-Met player of the year from St. Stephen's & St. Agnes (Alexandria, VA) are expected to contribute immediately.

Last season's starting back five--goaltender Kelsey Duryea and defenders Izzy Montaigne, Claire Scarrone, Maura Schwitter, and Devon Russell--returns intact, so expect Duke to be stingy on defense.

The Camels, a fourth-year program that went 5-13 last year, may not provide a tough test, but the schedule gets crazy after that. Pre-season number five Northwestern comes to town on Sunday. After that, the Blue Devils face Navy, USC, Elon, and Penn before ACC play starts against VaTech on March 5.

chrishoke
02-04-2016, 12:23 PM
Thanks burns. Very excited to start the new season. What are our men's and women's teams ranked in the preseason polls?

burnspbesq
02-04-2016, 01:49 PM
Thanks burns. Very excited to start the new season. What are our men's and women's teams ranked in the preseason polls?

Men are number three in all the pre-season polls, behind Denver and ND.

There is less of a consensus about the women. They are as high as number four in some polls, and as low as number 12 in others. If i had a vote, i would probably have them at number six, behind Maryland, Carolina, Northwestern, Cuse, and UVa.

MCFinARL
02-04-2016, 03:50 PM
Yikes! Lax season always sneaks up on me; seems much too early.

Thanks, burns, for the nice write up and insights into this year's squad.

burnspbesq
02-04-2016, 07:59 PM
Duke defeats Campbell, 20-4. Hat trick for Jenner in her college debut. Harney with three goals and four assists.

Two of the Camels' goals came in the last 40 seconds against a backup keeper.

Duke shot 69 percent.

53n206
02-04-2016, 09:53 PM
Think the lead at half was 15 to 2. Two really quick goals in the second half following which Duke just burned time---- pass, pass, pass. No real attempt to score, as should be. Difficult to say anything about this team because the competition wasn't adequate. Time will tell, but they did look good.
(Love the voice recognition on the Apple, but you must edit.)