DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke women's lacrosse team announced its 2009 slate today, a schedule that includes four exhibition contests and 16 regular-season games – eight of which will be played at home at Koskinen Stadium. The 2009 schedule consists of a pair of home ACC games, in Virginia Tech and North Carolina, in addition to three conference contests to be played on the road as the Blue Devils will travel to face Maryland, Virginia, and Boston College.

Seven of Duke's 2009 opponents were participants in the 16-team 2008 NCAA Tournament, while nine of the teams finished the season ranked in the final Division I poll.

"We have always taken enormous pride in the quality and competitiveness of our schedule, and 2009 is no different," said head coach Kerstin Kimel. "Our staff and team look forward to preparing for the challenges we will face, both in conference play and against our traditional out-of-conference rivals."

Duke will open the spring's competition with exhibition games against the U.S. Developmental team and the U.S. Elite team on Sunday, Feb. 1 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. They will then host England in exhibition in a home game on Friday, Feb. 6, and will travel to participate in the annual South of the Border tournament at North Carolina's campus on Sunday, Feb. 8.

The regular season officially kicks off Friday, Feb. 13 as the Blue Devils make the trek to Denver, Colo., to battle the University of Denver at 7:00 p.m. EST. Duke will also face California that weekend, also to be played in Denver, pm Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Returning to Koskinen for the home opener, Duke hosts Richmond at 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 20, followed by William & Mary on Feb. 22 for a 3:00 p.m. game. The W&M game will be part of a double-header with the men's squad.

The Blue Devils will open ACC competition with Maryland in College Park, Md., at noon on Feb. 28. Duke's other home games include Princeton on Mar. 7, Vanderbilt on Mar. 11, Virginia Tech on Mar. 18, Canisius on Mar. 20, North Carolina on Apr. 17, and Dartmouth on May 3 – the regular-season finale. On Apr. 3, Duke will tackle four-time defending national champions Northwestern on the road in Evanston, Ill., at 8:00 p.m. EST.

The 2009 ACC Tournament will be held at Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg, Va., Apr. 23-26. Duke fell in the semifinals of the 2008 conference tournament to Virginia as the Cavaliers mounted a 10-9 comeback. The NCAA Tournament will open on May 10, 2009 and the finals are set for May 22-24 at Johnny Unitas Stadium on the campus of Towson University in Towson, Md.

Duke went 13-8 in 2008, placing third in the ACC at 3-2, and reached the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season despite losing seven of 12 starters from 2007 to graduation and injury. The Blue Devils return nine of 12 starters from last season.

February 1    US Developmental Team  Lake Buena Vista, FL  9:00 am
              US Elite Team                                1:00 pm
February 6    ENGLAND                DUKE                  6:00 pm
February 8    SOUTH of the Border    UNC                   all day
 
February 13   Denver                 Denver, CO            5:00 pm (MPT)
February 15   California             Denver, CO           12:00 pm (MPT)
February 20   RICHMOND               DUKE                  7:00 pm
February 22   WILLIAM & MARY         DUKE                  3:00 pm*
February 28   Maryland               College Park, MD     12:00 noon
 
March 7       PRINCETON              DUKE                  1:00 pm
March 11      VANDERBILT             DUKE                  3:30 pm
March 14      Georgetown             Washington, DC        1:00 pm
March 18      VIRGINIA TECH          DUKE                  7:00 pm
March 20      CANISIUS               DUKE                  6:00 pm
March 28      Virginia               Charlottesville, VA   1:00 pm
 
April 3       Northwestern           Evanston, IL          7:00 pm (CST)
April 11      Boston College         Chesnut Hill, MA      1:00 pm
April 17      NORTH CAROLINA         DUKE                  7:00 pm
April 19      Davidson               Davidson, NC          1:00 pm
April 23-26   ACC Tournament         Blacksburg, VA        
 
May 3         DARTMOUTH              DUKE                  12:00 pm

* Doubleheader with men

2008-10-20