The Blue Devils were so close a year ago.
Up 8-6 in the second half of the national title game against Johns Hopkins, the Duke men's lacrosse team couldn't hold on as the Blue Jays scored the game's final three goals and celebrated an undefeated season.
But now a year older and with nine starters returning, the No. 2 Blue Devils are primed to make a run at the program's first national championship. Duke begins its season Saturday at Koskinen Stadium at 1 p.m. against Butler.
"That was certainly a great season a year ago, but you have to remember we were in two championship games and lost in both," head coach Mike Pressler said. "We lost the ACC final and the national championship, so as far as championships go we didn't grab one other than the ACC regular season championship. So for us it's about getting back-hopefully to each one of those games-and if we're lucky enough, turn the outcome around."
With nine preseason All-Americans, Duke certainly has the talent to make a return visit to the title game.
The Blue Devils led the nation in scoring last year, with a 13.35 goals per game average, and return all three attack players. The trio of senior Dan Flannery, junior Matt Danowski and sophomore Zack Greer combined to score 157 goals.
After last year's Tewaaraton Trophy winner Kyle Harrison graduated, Danowski may be the leading candidate to win the honor this year. The junior, who was the nation's third leading scorer, was one of five finalists for the national player of the year award.
Aiding the attack will be an All-American line at midfield, which is led by senior Matt Zash. The second-year captain plays both offense and defense, as well as taking Duke's face-offs.
"We have great senior leadership and a lot of the juniors playing too," Greer said. "The younger guys have to look up to them, follow in their footsteps, and be on the same page so that we have all 46 players working together."
The biggest loss from last season's 17-3 squad was the graduation of National Goalie of the Year Aaron Fenton. Junior Dan Loftus, who has seen limited action over his first two seasons, will start the year in the cage.
Despite the loss of Fenton, the defensive unit, which was third in the nation in goals against average in 2005, includes two preseason All-Americans in Tony McDevitt and Casey Carroll.
"I think we have to become a better defensive team," Pressler said. "I truly believe that, because whoever is in the goal we can't expect that they're going to have a first team All-American year like Aaron did. We hope, but in order for us to help and support them, we have to play better defense in front."
Even with all their experienced talent, the Blue Devils realize they cannot get complacent and must continue to develop.
"A very important thing for us is to really improve our face-off statistics," Pressler said. "We were sub-50 percent, and a goal of ours is to get as close to 60 percent as possible. Once we have the ball, we feel we're going to score."
Coming off a 5-8 season, last year's squad exceeded expectations. Now as one of the nation's best teams, Duke is facing a different set of challenges.
"I wouldn't say we feel too much pressure," midfielder Nick O'Hara said. "I think last year we were coming off of a rough season and we just came out really hungry. This year our focus is to stay hungry."
The chronicle
The Blue Devils were so close a year ago.
Up 8-6 in the second half of the national title game against Johns Hopkins, the Duke men's lacrosse team couldn't hold on as the Blue Jays scored the game's final three goals and celebrated an undefeated season.
But now a year older and with nine starters returning, the No. 2 Blue Devils are primed to make a run at the program's first national championship. Duke begins its season Saturday at Koskinen Stadium at 1 p.m. against Butler.
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"That was certainly a great season a year ago, but you have to remember we were in two championship games and lost in both," head coach Mike Pressler said. "We lost the ACC final and the national championship, so as far as championships go we didn't grab one other than the ACC regular season championship. So for us it's about getting back-hopefully to each one of those games-and if we're lucky enough, turn the outcome around."
With nine preseason All-Americans, Duke certainly has the talent to make a return visit to the title game.
The Blue Devils led the nation in scoring last year, with a 13.35 goals per game average, and return all three attack players. The trio of senior Dan Flannery, junior Matt Danowski and sophomore Zack Greer combined to score 157 goals.
After last year's Tewaaraton Trophy winner Kyle Harrison graduated, Danowski may be the leading candidate to win the honor this year. The junior, who was the nation's third leading scorer, was one of five finalists for the national player of the year award.
Aiding the attack will be an All-American line at midfield, which is led by senior Matt Zash. The second-year captain plays both offense and defense, as well as taking Duke's face-offs.
"We have great senior leadership and a lot of the juniors playing too," Greer said. "The younger guys have to look up to them, follow in their footsteps, and be on the same page so that we have all 46 players working together."
The biggest loss from last season's 17-3 squad was the graduation of National Goalie of the Year Aaron Fenton. Junior Dan Loftus, who has seen limited action over his first two seasons, will start the year in the cage.
Despite the loss of Fenton, the defensive unit, which was third in the nation in goals against average in 2005, includes two preseason All-Americans in Tony McDevitt and Casey Carroll.
"I think we have to become a better defensive team," Pressler said. "I truly believe that, because whoever is in the goal we can't expect that they're going to have a first team All-American year like Aaron did. We hope, but in order for us to help and support them, we have to play better defense in front."
Even with all their experienced talent, the Blue Devils realize they cannot get complacent and must continue to develop.
"A very important thing for us is to really improve our face-off statistics," Pressler said. "We were sub-50 percent, and a goal of ours is to get as close to 60 percent as possible. Once we have the ball, we feel we're going to score."
Coming off a 5-8 season, last year's squad exceeded expectations. Now as one of the nation's best teams, Duke is facing a different set of challenges.
"I wouldn't say we feel too much pressure," midfielder Nick O'Hara said. "I think last year we were coming off of a rough season and we just came out really hungry. This year our focus is to stay hungry."