2023 Women's Top 30: How Duke Fared vs. Projections

Before USA Lacrosse Magazine looks ahead to what’s to come in 2024, our team of staff and contributors decided it was worth taking one last look at 2023.

After all, you have to look at the most recent results before making projections for what’s to come. To do that, we’re taking a journey through the top 30 teams in men’s and women’s lacrosse — what went right, what went wrong and what we should all think of that team’s season.

Was it a success? A failure? A mixture of both? You’ll find out our thoughts over the next month or so.

DUKE WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Nike/USA Lacrosse Preseason/Final Top 20 Ranking: 11/Unranked
2023 record: 8-10 (1-8 ACC)

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Maddie Jenner set the Division I women’s all-time draws mark, and her 187 draw wins helped an offense that finished a respectable 29th nationally in scoring offense (13.50). Scoring has been Duke’s calling card the past several seasons, and Katie DeSimone grabbed hold of the offense with 48 goals and 18 assists for a team-leading 66 points. Overall, six players registered at least 20 goals, and seven produced at least 25 points.

WHAT WENT WRONG

Injuries were partly (and maybe mostly) to blame for Duke’s inconsistencies. Only 12 players rostered in 2023 played all 18 games, and key contributors like Sophia LeRose, Olivia Carner and Anna Callahan missed significant chunks of time. Other expected contributors, like goalie Kennedy Everson, couldn’t play at all.

The defense was the other culprit. Duke finished 53rd nationally in scoring defense (11.56 goals allowed per game). You can chalk that up to goalie availability (Everson didn’t play, LeRose played 11 games and Shaye Fitzpatrick played 10 games) and young defenders with some promise heading into next year.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

You could argue Duke saved its best lacrosse for last, taking North Carolina to the brink in a 13-12 loss in April 20’s regular season finale. Then the Blue Devils picked up a win over Louisville in the ACC tournament three days later before falling to Boston College and going home without an NCAA tournament berth.

VERDICT

It’s easy to be disappointed in Duke’s 2023 season, but again, injuries look like the main culprit here. Duke appears to be in good shape on the offensive end for 2024, and steps forward from young defenders will help. But 2023 proved to be a season to forget.