The Opening Faceoff
- Duke begins a three-game road swing Saturday at No. 16 Richmond. Faceoff is set for 1 p.m. in Robins Stadium on ESPN+.
- The Blue Devils are 6-1 against the Spiders with three of the wins coming by a single goal. Duke defeated Richmond, 13-6, in 2021. The Spiders' win was in the inaugural meeting in 2016.
- Coached by former Blue Devil Dan Chemotti, the Spiders are 5-2 overall and ranked 16th in the coaches poll. Richmond sports the nation's top scoring defense, allowing just 7.71 goals per game. The Spiders are equally as dangerous offensively, averaging 15.9 goals per game to rank eighth nationally.
- Thirteen Blue Devils scored a goal in a 21-6 midweek victory over Richmond Wednesday. Dyson Williams headlined the high-powered offense with five goals, while Brennan O'Neill had two goals and three assists. Duke held Providence to just one goal in the first half and Jake Naso was dominant at the faceoff dot, winning 13-of-16 restarts.
- Duke continues its tough road next week, traveling to No. 6 Syracuse (March 20) and No. 7 Denver (March 24). Duke caps the month against Boston U. (March 27).
By the Numbers
906 - Career faceoffs won by
Jake Naso - the most in Duke history and one of nine in NCAA history to reach the benchmark and eight from eighth place
14.76 – Points per game average for Duke's starting attack unit of
Brennan O'Neill,
Dyson Williams and
Josh Zawada
.594 - Freshman goalie
Patrick Jameison's save percentage through eight games, fifth nationally
.673 - Richmond goalie Zach Vigue's save percentage, the highest in the country
18.63 – Goals per game average for Duke - the highest in the nation by over one goal per game
7.71 - Richmond's goals allowed per game average, the lowest nationally
48 – Goals scored by Duke in first quarters this season - the most of any of the four quarters
181 & 179 - Career goals for
Dyson Williams and
Brennan O'Neill respectively, second and third among active DI players
269 – Career points for
Brennan O'Neill, fifth in Duke history and 31 from becoming the fourth Blue Devil to 300
.355 - Richmond's shot percentage for the season
.252 – Duke opponents' shot percentage for the season with only one shooting above 33 percent in a game this season
Series History
- Duke and Richmond are meeting for the eighth time since the inaugural matchup in 2016. The Blue Devils are 6-1 overall and have won six consecutive, including a 13-6 victory in 2021. Three of the six Duke wins have come by a single goal, including a 16-15 overtime win in 2020.
A Win Over Richmond Would….
- Be head coach John Danowski's 467th career win
- Be Danowski's 248th win at Duke
- Be the program's 637th overall victory
Duke On The Road
- The Blue Devils are 2-0 in true road games this season. Duke is 59-25 in road matchups under head coach John Danowski. Since 2007, Duke has gone unbeaten in away games just twice - 2009 and 2010. Duke plays five true road games this season.
What Gives?
- Saturday's contest between Duke and Richmond features a host of interesting matchups, pitting two of the nation's top scoring offenses against top defensive units.
- Both teams feature goaltenders with impressive save percentages. Richmond backstop Zach Vigue has a .673 save percentage, while Duke's Patrick Jameison is at .594.
UR GPG |
DU GAA |
UR Shot% |
DU Opp. Shot% |
15.86 |
9.5 |
0.355 |
0.252 |
DU GPG |
UR GAA |
DU Shot% |
UR Opp. Shot% |
18.63 |
7.71 |
0.406 |
0.226 |
DU FO% |
UR FO% |
DU GB/GM |
UR GB/GM |
0.586 |
0.516 |
37.88 |
30.29 |
Against Ranked Opponents
- Since 2007, Duke is 133-58 (.696) versus USILA top-20 opponents. The Blue Devils are slated to play eight teams ranked in current USILA poll.
Up Next
- Duke opens ACC play with a midweek matchup against No. 6 Syracuse. Faceoff at the JMA Wireless Dome is set for 7 p.m.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's lacrosse, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMLAX".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
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