The Opening Draw
The No. 23 Duke women's lacrosse team is gearing up to host East Carolina this Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium, with the game streaming on ACCNX.
Duke has dominated the all-time series against the Pirates, boasting an 8-0 record, including a perfect 4-0 when playing at home in Durham. Last season, the Blue Devils narrowly edged out the Pirates in a nail-biting 14-13 victory, holding off a late comeback.
Currently, Duke holds a 2-2 record for the season. Their latest win came in dramatic fashion against Richmond, where they surged with five goals in the fourth quarter to take the lead.
Richmond responded with a last-second goal to tie the game at 14-14, forcing overtime. Junior Caitlin Barrett secured the crucial opening draw in overtime, setting up sophomore Avery Doran for the game-winning goal just 47 seconds into the extra period, sealing a thrilling 15-14 win.
By The Numbers
- 23: Duke's ranking in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Poll (IWLCA).
- 24: Their spot in the Inside Lacrosse poll.
- 8-0: Duke's lead in the all-time series against East Carolina, including a 4-0 record in Durham.
- 2-1: Duke's record in non-conference games this season.
- 14-13: The score from last season's close win over the Pirates.
- 5: Points scored by Eva Pronti against Richmond, with two goals and three assists.
- 1: Game-winning goal by Avery Doran this season, clinching the overtime victory against the Spiders.
- 10: Total goals by Quinn Whitaker this season, including a career-high four against Johns Hopkins.
- 1st: Ellie White's rank in the conference with 41 total draw controls, averaging 10.25 draws per game, ranking seventh nationally.
- 1: USA Lacrosse Preseason All-America honoree in Eva Pronti.
- 1: Tewaaraton Award Watch List nod for Bella Goodwin.
- 366: Career victories for head coach Kerstin Kimel, with 362 at Duke.
Duke in the Polls
Duke finds itself ranked in multiple top-25 polls, sitting at No. 23 in the IWLCA poll and No. 24 according to Inside Lacrosse.
Duke Versus East Carolina
This matchup marks the ninth meeting between Duke and East Carolina, with the Blue Devils holding an 8-0 advantage in the series. When playing in Durham, Duke has maintained a flawless 4-0 record.
Scouting the Pirates
East Carolina enters the game with a 2-1 record, having secured wins over Queens and Elon, but falling to Coastal Carolina. Kayla Wilkes leads the team with seven goals, while both she and Katelyn Sclafani have dished out five assists each.
Defensively, Emma Magazu has been a standout with 17 ground balls, and Wilkes tops the team with seven caused turnovers. In goal, Jaime Behar has made 27 saves, boasting a .510 save percentage.
Up Next
Duke is set to welcome California to Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium for an ACC matchup on February 28 at 3 p.m.