Ground Report

Men’s Lacrosse 2015 Schedule Announced

December 11, 2014

DURHAM, N.C.—The Duke University men’s lacrosse team will face seven of the preseason top 11 teams and eight NCAA Tournament squads in a challenging 2015 schedule as announced by head coach John Danowski. The Blue Devils face five teams ranked among the top seven overall, including each of the other the top four.

The Blue Devils, ranked third in the preseason poll, will play seven home games at Koskinen Stadium, including a rematch with 2014 NCAA runner-up Notre Dame, and seven true road games. The ACC Tournament will be held at PPL Park in Chester, Pa., for the second consecutive year. All televised games will be announced upon confirmation from the ACC office.

Duke opens the season on the road Feb. 7 at High Point. The Blue Devils and Panthers are meeting for the second time since the High Point program started in 2013.

The 2014 NCAA Champions will make their home debut at Koskinen Stadium the following day, Feb. 8 versus Air Force. The contest will be a rematch of the 2014 NCAA Tournament first round game which Duke won 20-9.

With two games under their belts, the Blue Devils will face a tough task the following weekend when they travel to Kennesaw, Ga., to battle preseason No. 1 Denver. The game is slated to start at 3 p.m. , at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, which played host to the 2014 Major League Lacrosse Championship game. Duke defeated the Pioneers in both the regular season and again in the NCAA semifinal last season.

The back-to-back schedule continues as Duke makes the short trip to Macon, Ga., the following afternoon to play Mercer at 2 p.m. A trip back to the stomping grounds of Danowski and many players is set for Feb. 22 when the Blue Devils face off against Stony Brook.

Duke’s grueling February comes to an end the following weekend when it hosts preseason No. 11 Harvard. The game will be the sixth in the short month. No rest for the weary, Duke will hit the field March 1 to take on former Duke assistant coach Chris Gabrielli’s Providence squad.

Ranked seventh in the Inside Lacrosse preseason poll, Loyola will visit Durham March 7. The Greyhounds got the better of the Blue Devils in 2014, handing Duke a 14-7 loss. Overall, Danowski is 7-3 versus Loyola at Duke and unbeaten at home.

A tough three-game road swing is up next for the Blue Devils as they travel to Georgetown, Syracuse and North Carolina to close out the March portion of the slate.

Duke will make its first trip to the Carrier Dome as an ACC foe of the Orange and for just the second time in program history March 22. Syracuse comes in just behind the Blue Devils at No. 4 in the preseason poll.

One week later, March 29, Duke will make the short trip down Tobacco Road to battle No. 6 North Carolina. The Blue Devils are 14-2 against the Tar Heels under Danowski and have not lost a regular season game in Chapel Hill since a 14-9 setback in 2003.

Duke closes out its ACC regular season schedule April 4 and April 12 with home games against No.2 Notre Dame and No. 10 Virginia, respectively.

The matchup with the Fighting Irish marks the second consecutive season in which the NCAA title game rematch will be played in Durham. Duke defeated Notre Dame 11-9 to capture its third NCAA crown.

The Blue Devils will look to continue their dominance over Virginia in Koskinen Stadium. Duke is 12-1 against the Cavaliers since 2007 and has not lost to Virginia at home since 1997.

After a quick trip to Milwaukee to take on Marquette April 18, Duke will hit the road to Philadelphia for the ACC Tournament. Duke closes out its regular season schedule at Koskinen versus Boston University May 3.

Meredith V. Rieder

Assistant Sports Information Director | Duke University

115 Cameron Indoor Stadium

Box 90557 | Durham, N.C. 27708

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