05/21/2008 - Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke field hockey head coach Beth Bozman has announced the Blue Devils' 2008 slate, as 10 home games , the annual Champions Challenge and hosting the 2008 ACC Tournament highlight the schedule.

Duke will take part in scrimmages on Aug. 23 and 24 at James Madison University before opening the regular season at Louisville for the Championships Challenge where the Blue Devils will take on Louisville (Aug. 30 - 11:30 a.m.) and Delaware or Michigan State (Aug. 31 - 11:30 a.m. or 2 p.m.). The following weekend, the Blue Devils will again hit the road for two contests in Iowa City, Iowa, facing American on Sept. 6 (2 p.m.) and Iowa on Sept. 7 (1 p.m.).

After a Sept. 13 contest at Wake Forest (1 p.m.), Duke's first ACC test of the season, the Blue Devils return home on the following day to square off against Drexel at 1 p.m. in Duke's home opener at Williams Field. The game with the Dragons kicks off a six-game home stand as Duke then welcomes Ohio State (Sept. 20 - 1 p.m.), Old Dominion (Sept. 21 - 1 p.m.), reigning national champion North Carolina (Sept. 27 - 1 p.m.), Boston College (Oct. 4 - 1 p.m.) and Boston University (Oct. 5 - 1 p.m.) to Durham.

The Blue Devils will travel to College Park to take on Maryland on Oct. 11 (1 p.m.) before hosting Ohio University on Oct. 14 (6 p.m.). Duke will then play two more regular season contests on the road on Oct. 17 and 19 as the Blue Devils go up against William & Mary (7 p.m.) and Old Dominion (1 p.m.), respectively.

Duke closes out the regular season at Williams Field with games versus Appalachian State (Oct. 25 - 1 p.m.), Longwood (Oct. 26 - 1 p.m.) and Virginia (Nov. 1 - 1 p.m.).

"We think this is a great schedule that will allow us to show our growth from last year," said Bozman. "Aside from the obvious strength of our ACC opponents we'll also be playing top teams from most of the other top conferences. We are continuing our philosophy of playing the toughest schedule possible -- it makes us stronger."

The Blue Devils will serve as hosts for the 2008 ACC Tournament, which is slated for Nov. 6-9.

2008 Duke University Field Hockey Schedule

Aug. 23 - Penn State at JMU - 1:00 p.m. (scrimmage)
Aug. 24 - at JMU - 1:00 (scrimmage)
Aug. 30 - at Louisville - 11:30 a.m. (Champions Challenge)
Aug. 31 - Delaware or Michigan State at Louisville - 11:30 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. (Champions Challenge)
Sept. 6 - American at Iowa - 2:00 p.m.
Sept. 7 - at Iowa - 1:00 p.m
Sept. 13 - at Wake Forest* - 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 14 - Drexel - 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 20 - Ohio State - 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 21 - Old Dominion - 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 27 - North Carolina* - 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 4 - Boston College* - 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 5 - Boston University - 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 11 - at Maryland* - 1:00 p.m.
Oct.14 - Ohio University - 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 17 - at William & Mary - 7:00 p.m.
Oct. 19 - at Old Dominion - 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 25 - Appalachian State - 1:00 p.m. 
Oct. 26 - Longwood - 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 1 - Virginia* - 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 6-9 - ACC Tournament (Durham, N.C.)
Nov. 15-16 - NCAA Tournament First & Second Rounds (Campus sites, TBD)
Nov. 21 - NCAA Tournament Semifinals (at University of Louisville)
Nov. 23 - NCAA Tournament Championship (at University of Louisville)

Home games in bold -- * indicates ACC contest

-duke-