After the women's lacrosse team dropped its first game of the season last weekend, head coach Kerstin Kimel felt it was time for a change. She instituted a new leadership structure for her team in preparation for its toughest stretch of the season to date.
The No. 4 Blue Devils (9-1) will host two top-10 opponents over the span of three days when they take on No. 1 Northwestern (10-0) at 7 p.m. Friday and No. 10 Notre Dame (10-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both games will be played at Koskinen Stadium.
Two days after Virginia defeated Duke, 11-10, April 1, Kimel drew out a specific scheme for on-the-field leadership positions during her team's meeting before Monday's practice. Kimel said the changes were meant to clearly establish individuals that the attack, midfield and defense units could turn to for guidance.
"We are trying to make some adjustments with our on-field leadership and our leadership roles," Kimel said. "We are specifying some things that we want to do and that we haven't done in a few games."
So far this year, the team has relied on last season's Tewaaraton Trophy Award winner Katie Chrest as the prominent source of on-field guidance. Kimel asked attackers Kristen Waagbo and Leigh Jester to take on more of a leadership presence for the attackers in addition to Chrest. Waagbo said the changes will take some pressure off Chrest and allow her to play better in the team's upcoming games.
The changes took effect quickly Monday as the Blue Devils seemed to show few ill-effects from their first loss of the season. Kimel said her players had an "awesome" opening practice to the week.
"Their mentality was outstanding," the coach said. "Their focus was probably as good as it has been all year."
The Blue Devils' spirit will need to be high when they match up against the Wildcats, the reigning National Champions. Northwestern is led by junior midfielder Kristen Kjellman, who has recorded 35 goals this year. The Wildcats have won 31 straight games dating back to last season.
No matter what happens in Friday's contest, Duke will have little time to react before it takes on the Fighting Irish. Like the Wildcats, Notre Dame has one the nation's most dangerous offenses. The Fighting Irish are second in the country behind Northwestern in goals per game with 15.8.
"Both of them have very prolific offenses," Kimel said. "I think being prepared for that and having two very tough games over the span of three days is something to be worried about, but that is what we have depth for and this is what we use it for."
Last season, the Blue Devils faced a similar stretch when they played these two teams on the road April 8 and April 10, 2005.
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