ELON, N.C. – Friday, Feb. 7, will be the beginning of a new era in Elon Athletics as the Elon women’s lacrosse team plays its first ever game at No. 6 Duke. The opening draw is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Koskinen Stadium.
Elon at #6 Duke
Date: Friday, Feb. 7
Time: 3 p.m.
Site: Durham, N.C. (Koskinen Stadium)
Looking Back
On March 20, 2012, Elon announced the addition of women’s lacrosse as its 17th varsity sport with competition to begin in 2014. Almost two years later, the Phoenix is a day away from its program opener.
Roster at a Glance
Elon is one of two new women’s lacrosse Division I programs this year, along with Michigan. The Phoenix roster features two seniors, two sophomores and 21 freshmen. Seven states are represented on the roster with 12 players hailing from Maryland, five from New Jersey, two players each from North Carolina, Florida and Georgia and one from both New York and Pennsylvania.
Blue Devil Connection
Both Elon head coach Josh Hexter and assistant coach Virginia Crotty will be on familiar ground during Friday’s game at Duke. Prior to becoming Elon’s first head coach, Hexter coached at Duke for eight seasons, serving as associate head coach for three of those years. Crotty is a 2011 graduate of Duke where she played attack for the Blue Devils from 2008-11.
Tough Competition
The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWCLA) released its 2014 Pre-Season Division I Poll on Monday, Feb. 3. This season the Phoenix is scheduled to face two top 10 teams, No. 1 North Carolina and No. 6 Duke, as well as two teams that are receiving votes, Virginia Tech and Jacksonville.
Preseason Prognostications
The Atlantic-Sun released its Preseason Lacrosse Coaches Poll on Jan. 17. Elon was selected to finish fifth with 13 points in the conference. Reigning league champion Jacksonville, Detroit, Stetson and Kennesaw State round out the top four, respectively, while Howard was picked sixth. Freshmen Molly Garrigan and Sydney Hesselbein were both selected to the Newcomer Watch List.
Looking Ahead
Elon will host its first home game next weekend on Friday, Feb. 14, against Longwood at 4 p.m. in Rhodes Stadium.