Ground Ball Notebook: Duke Closes Out ACC Schedule

Blue Devils Suffer Third Loss to Nation's No. 1

For the second time in three weeks, the Duke men's lacrosse team fell to the nation's top-ranked team. The Blue Devils lost to then-No. 1 and unbeaten Syracuse March 22 and most recently dropped a 15-10 game to the newest No. 1 in Notre Dame this past Saturday. Duke has faced three different top-ranked teams this year – Denver, Syracuse and Notre Dame – and lost all three. The Blue Devils have faced the top-ranked squad 13 times since 2007 and are 5-8 in those games. Duke's last win over the No. 1 squad in the land was a 13-5 triumph at Virginia in 2012.

Tanner Scott Nets First Career Hat Trick

The play of senior midfielder Tanner Scott was a bright spot in an otherwise tough day for the Blue Devils against the Fighting Irish. Scott recorded his first career hat trick to lead all Duke scorers. He had scored multiple goals just once before – in the win over Harvard – but was able to find the openings against a tough Shane Doss Saturday. He has 14 points on the year from 12 goals and two assists, which are eight more than he had his previous three seasons combined.

Duke and Virginia Playing for Spot in the ACC Tournament

Last week's No. 7 Duke and No. 8 Virginia are scheduled to face off Sunday, April 12 with a spot in the ACC Tournament on the line. Both squads are 0-3 in league play after respective losses to No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 4 North Carolina over the weekend. The winner will earn the final spot in the four-team ACC Tournament, while the other squad will play Penn on the off day of the ACC Championship weekend at PPL Park.

Duke's Recent Success vs. UVA

The Blue Devils have fared well against Virginia under John Danowski. Duke is 13-1 against the Cavaliers since 2007 and 8-0 in regular season games in that span. Duke's last loss to Virginia in Durham was an 11-8 setback April 12, 2003, while the last regular season defeat was in the 2004 season in Charlottesville.

Blue Devils in New Territory

Duke has lost three straight for the first time since the 2004 season when it suffered six straight setbacks. The 2004 squad finished that season 5-8 and 0-3 in the conference. It was the last time Duke failed to win an ACC game. The Blue Devils, with the addition of Zack Greer and an overall talented group, rebounded the following season with a 17-3

overall record and advanced to the NCAA Championship game.

Major League Lacrosse Ready to Get Underway

A host of former Blue Devils have been sharpening their skills these past few weeks in their respective Major League Lacrosse training camps as the 2015 season is set to start Sunday with a trio of games. Lots of Dukies will be in action in the first game of the campaign as the Rochester Rattlers face off against the Charlotte Hounds. Bragging rights for the Duke alums will be on the line in that one.

Charlotte Hounds Name 25-Man Roster

Four Blue Devils are among 25 players selected to Charlotte's roster for the season opener this coming weekend. Josh Dionne, Brendan Fowler, Henry Lobb and Jake Tripucka all will suit up for the Hounds against the Rochester Rattlers in the MLL opener. The game will be the MLL debut for Josh Dionne since he suffered a knee injury at the end of Duke's 2014 championship season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Ocho! RT <a href="https://twitter.com/Leaphart3">@Leaphart3</a>: Scooping up your boy <a href="https://twitter.com/joshdionne8">@joshdionne8</a>. Great weekend to be a Hound. Training Camp II - Let's goooo. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TTT?src=hash">#TTT</a></p>— Brendan Fowler (@BRabbit_3) <a href="https://twitter.com/BRabbit_3/status/584081522648600577">April 3, 2015</a></blockquote>

Social Media Mentions

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/Duke_MLAX">@Duke_MLAX</a> for stopping to sign a ball for my boy & being so gracious! You guys are great role models! <a href="http://t.co/L1lxV24VbY">pic.twitter.com/L1lxV24VbY</a></p>— Lacrosse Specialties (@laxsp) <a href="https://twitter.com/laxsp/status/584556586812755968">April 5, 2015</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/Duke_MLAX">@Duke_MLAX</a> Koskinen stadium looks like Augusta</p>— Paul Ferrucci (@PaulFerrucci) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulFerrucci/status/584480127771357186">April 4, 2015</a></blockquote>