PREVIEW: Dukes Open 2024 Season at Pitt

PITTSBURGH -- The Duquesne University lacrosse team will begin its 28th season on Friday, taking on Pitt at Highmark Stadium.

GAME INFO
Friday, February 9, 2024 | 4:00 PM | Highmark Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA)
Duquesne Dukes (0-0, 0-0 A-10) vs. Pitt Panthers (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
WATCH (ACCNX) | LIVE STATS | GAME NOTES

SERIES HISTORY

Pitt leads 2-0
Last Meeting: 2/11/23 at DUQ - L, 10-16
First Meeting: 2/11/22 at Pitt - L, 8-9 (OT)
Streak: L2
Home/Away Record: (H) 0-1 / (A) 0-1

DUKES IN SEASON OPENERS

Duquesne holds a 13-14 record all-time in season openers.
The Dukes have dropped two straight (both to Pitt) and will look to avoid three straight season-opening losses for the first time since 2008-10.
Duquesne is 2-7 when starting its seasons on the road ... This is just the third away game to start a season for the Dukes in the last 16 seasons (2020, 2022, 2024).

VS. THE PANTHERS

Duquesne will open up against crosstown rival Pitt for the third straight season ... This will be the second meeting at Highmark Stadium.
Last year, the Panthers used a strong start to propel them to a 16-10 victory at Rooney Field ... Pitt led by nine goals at halftime, but DU clawed back in the game with five straight goals and held Pitt off the board in the third quarter bringing the game to as close as 12-8 with 13:18 left ... The Panthers rallied for four goals in the fourth quarter to hold on for the win.
Mackenzie Leszczynski and Jillian Caroselli both had hat tricks for the Dukes, while Chloe Holmes (2), Emelie Curtis, and Chelsea Evans all added goals ... All five goal scorers for DU return to the roster this season.
The first meeting in 2022 was the inaugural game for the Pitt program ... After back-to-back DU goals to take an 8-7 lead with five minutes remaining, Pitt answered to tie the game at eight at the two minute mark and force an eventual overtime ... The Panthers scored at the 1:58 mark in OT to take the opener for their first-ever win in program history.

RETURNING THE CORE

Duquesne, looking to rebound from a 2-14 season in 2023, 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.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS

Pitt is coming off a 4-13 season a year ago and did not win a game in the ACC (0-9).
The Panthers played nine ranked teams last season.
Pitt returns 16 of its 17 goal scorers from last year, including seven double-digit scorers ... Junior Ava Washington (23 goals) and fifth year Camdyn O'Donnell (21 goals) lead the returners on the attack.
In goal, Pitt will have to replace Hannah Van Middelem, who ranked third in the ACC in saves per game (7.76) in 2023.
The Panthers went 2-6 on their home turf last season and are 10-9 all-time at Highmark Stadium since the program's inception in 2022.

RETURNING HONOREES

Mackenzie Leszczynski, Chelsea Evans, and Hanna Pawela earned spots on the 2023 Atlantic 10 End of Season Awards List.
Leszczynski was named second team all-conference.
- Netted 45 goals, scoring in all 16 games, and dished out 15 assists ... Ranked top-10 in the league in nine different stat categories ... 2.81 goals per game average was fourth in the A-10 ... Ranked second in the league in free position percentage converting at a 60.9% rate ... Totaled 72 draw controls - the third-most in a season in Duquesne history ... Has 67 career goals and 86 points in two seasons as a Duke.
Evans appeared on the All-Rookie list.
- Scored 31 times - the second-most of any A-10 rookie - and had seven assists ... Led the A-10 in free position percentage (63.2% / 12-for-19) ... A-10 Rookie of the Week in late February ... Currently rehabbing an ACL injury and is expected to return in March.
Pawela was tabbed All-Academic.
- Finished the season fifth in the NCAA and leading the A-10 in caused turnovers per game (2.44) ... Ranked third in the league in ground balls per game (2.62) ... 39 caused turnovers were the ninth-most ever in a season by a Duke.

STAT CHECK

Duquesne ranked 16th nationally and second in the A-10 last season with a .500 free position percentage.
The Dukes also were in the top-half of the conference in caused turnovers per game (8.50), ground balls per game (17.19), and shot percentage (.447).

WELCOME TO THE BLUFF

Duquesne's 2024 roster includes eight freshmen and six transfers.
The transfer class includes one graduate, a senior, two juniors, a sophomore and a freshman.
Lindsay Newton arrives on the Bluff as a grad transfer after spending four seasons at Rutgers.
Tristen Chang is a senior transfer from Youngstown State.
Juniors Emily King and Haley Reeck join the squad by way of Towson and Rutgers.
Sophomore Emma Raines spent her first collegiate season at Saint Joseph's.
Freshman Gracin Emerson comes to DU after attending Temple last year.