Duke Women’s Lacrosse Opens ACC Play at Pitt, Riding Momentum from Season Opener
The Duke women’s lacrosse team is off and running in 2026, and they’re not easing into the season. After a convincing 14-6 win over High Point to kick things off, the 14th-ranked Blue Devils now turn their attention to their ACC opener on the road against Pittsburgh this Thursday at 2 p.m.
This will be the fifth all-time meeting between Duke and Pitt, and history favors the Blue Devils. They’ve won all four previous matchups, including a 14-10 road win last season. In fact, Duke is 2-0 when playing in Pittsburgh - a trend they’ll look to continue as they dive into conference play.
Building on a Dominant Start
Last Friday’s season opener wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. Duke looked sharp on both ends of the field, and several new faces wasted no time making an impact.
Redshirt junior Ava Biancardi led the charge with a career-high five points, showcasing her ability to create and finish in equal measure. Freshman Quinn Whitaker and sophomore Sadie Stafford each notched hat tricks, giving Duke a balanced and dangerous offensive look early in the season.
On the defensive end, Amanda Paci turned in a standout performance. The sophomore matched two career highs, forcing five turnovers and scooping up three ground balls - the kind of gritty, disruptive play that can tilt a game. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman goalie Hope Schoudel made her first appearance in a Duke uniform and held her own with five saves and a .455 save percentage in her debut start.
It wasn’t just the veterans getting it done. Duke’s opener saw a wave of new talent hit the field.
Whitaker, Schoudel, and redshirt senior Eva Pronti all earned their first career starts, while Avery Doran, McKenzie Olsen, Cat LeTendre, and Caroline Doyle made their Duke debuts. The mix of experience and youth is already paying dividends.
A Program with Pedigree
Head coach Kerstin Kimel is now in her 31st season leading the Blue Devils, and her résumé speaks for itself: 365 career wins, 361 of them at Duke. Her teams have consistently competed at the highest level, and last year’s 14-win campaign - the program’s best since 2022 - is a testament to that.
Duke went 6-3 in conference play in 2025, their most ACC wins in three seasons. With six games on this year’s schedule against teams that made last year’s NCAA tournament, the path won’t be easy - but it’s clear this team is built to compete.
The Blue Devils are holding steady in the national rankings, coming in at No. 14 in both the IWLCA and USA Lacrosse polls, and No. 13 in the Inside Lacrosse rankings. With talent across the roster and depth at key positions, they’re in a strong position to climb higher.
Scouting the Panthers
Pittsburgh enters Thursday’s matchup with some momentum of their own, coming off a 13-10 win over Ohio State to open their season. Paige Telatovich led the way with four goals, while Avery Moon chipped in three goals and three assists to pace the Panthers with six points.
Defensively, Lainey McGonagle forced two turnovers, and goalie Molly Cain made eight saves, finishing with a .444 save percentage.
While Pitt is still a relatively new program compared to Duke’s storied history, they’ve shown they can compete - and they’ll be looking to flip the script against a team they’ve yet to beat.
What’s Next
After Thursday’s road test, Duke returns home to face Johns Hopkins on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. for their home opener. With two games in five days, this early stretch will offer a quick glimpse into how this team handles the grind - and whether they’re ready to make another deep postseason push.
For now, though, all eyes are on Pittsburgh. The ACC gauntlet begins, and Duke looks ready to run.