PITTSBURGH -- The Duquesne University lacrosse team is set to host Eastern Michigan on Thursday afternoon for its 2024 home opener at Rooney Field, the first of a four-game homestand for the Dukes.

GAMEDAY INFO
February 15, 2024 | 3:00 PM | Arthur J. Rooney Field
Eastern Michigan Eagles (0-1, 0-0 MAC) vs. Duquesne Dukes (0-1, 0-0 A-10)

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• DUQ GAME NOTES
• EMU GAME NOTES

LAST TIME OUT

• Duquesne dropped its opener 20-2 against Pitt at Highmark Stadium.
• Corinne Webb scored late in the first quarter to make it 3-1, but an 8-0 second quarter for Pitt put the Panthers in firm control of the contest.
• Pitt finished the game on a 17-1 run ... Emma Raines added the Dukes second goal late in the third quarter, her first collegiate goal.
• Duquesne has now lost three straight season openers against Pitt and fell to 13-15 all-time in season openers.

SHE'S BACK

• Corinne Webb missed the 2023 season due to injury and made an immediate impact in her return scoring the first goal on Friday at Pitt.

DUKES IN HOME OPENERS

• Duquesne has a 17-10 record in home openers and is 10-3 when its home opener is not also the season opener.
• Under Coach Desrosiers, the Dukes are 4-1 in home openers, last season they snapped a 4-0 streak with a 16-10 loss in its season and home opener vs. Pitt ... The previous two home-opening wins were against MAC schools - 2022 (19-15 vs. Youngstown State) and 2021 (22-6 vs. Kent State).
• Duquesne is looking to avoid an 0-2 start in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2017 and 2018 ... In five seasons under Coach Desrosiers, last year was the only 0-2 start.

HOME SWEET HOME

• The Dukes open a four-game homestand today, which is tied for the longest since five straight at Rooney Field in 2014.
• All four of the games during the homestand are against MAC members (Eastern Michigan, Youngstown State, Detroit Mercy, and Akron).

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

• Eastern Michigan is in its second season as a program ... In their inaugural season, the Eagles were 2-14 (1-7 MAC).
• EMU dropped a 21-6 decision at No. 7 Notre Dame on Friday to open the 2024 season ... Kelsea Dague had two goals and two assists to lead EMU, while 2023 MAC Freshman of the Year Mackenzie Blackwell added two scores of her own.
• Eastern Michigan is 0-9 all-time in road games ... The Eagles are in the midst of a five-game road swing to start the 2024 campaign.
• 37 of the 40 players on the EMU roster are freshmen or sophomores ... 25 are returners - 12 of which starters in 2023 - and 15 newcomers - made up of 11 first years and four transfers.

RETURNING THE CORE

• Duquesne brings back five of its six players that started all 16 games last year (Mackenzie Leszczynski, Chelsea Evans, Chloe Holmes, Emelie Curtis, and Jillian Caroselli) ... The Dukes also return seven of their 10 goal scorers.
• Mackenzie Leszczynski (second team all-conference), Chelsea Evans (all-rookie), and Hanna Pawela (all-academic) earned spots on the 2023 Atlantic 10 End of Season Awards List.

SEASON PREVIEW

• For a full season preview of the 2024 Dukes along with a pre-season interview with Coach Desrosiers, click here.

ATLANTIC 10 PRESEASON POLL

1. Richmond – 95 (6)
2. Massachusetts – 94 (4)
3. Saint Joseph's – 79
4. Davidson – 72
5. VCU – 49
6. George Washington – 48
7. St. Bonaventure – 45
8. George Mason – 28
9. Duquesne – 26
10. La Salle – 14

( ) Indicates first-place votes

UP NEXT

• Duquesne continues its home stretch on Thursday (Feb. 22) against Youngstown State. First draw is slated for 4 pm at Rooney Field.

FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne Lacrosse all season online at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqLax).