DURHAM, N.C.-Duke University head coach John Danowski recently announced the 2012 schedule. Highlighted by two games in NFL venues, the Blue Devils will play seven NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago, including all three semifinalists, in 2012.
Duke will host eight games at Koskinen Stadium, starting with Rutgers February 11 at 1:00 p.m. The Blue Devils will play five true road games and two neutral site contests. Two of Duke's three ACC contests this year will be on the road.
The season kicks off February 11 with the Scarlet Knights. Danowski, who will start the season with 299 career wins, will be looking for his 300th career victory against his alma mater. Duke and Rutgers have not played since the inaugural meeting in 1958 when the Scarlet Knights won 12-3 in Durham. Rutgers will be one of four Big East opponents Duke will face in 2012.
The Blue Devils hit the road for the first time February 18 at rival Notre Dame. The two squads have met twice in each of the past two seasons with the Irish taking both regular season matches. This will be the first time Duke has traveled to South Bend in the 10 previous contests.
Duke returns for a weekend homestand against Pennsylvania and Jacksonville February 24 and 26, respectively. The Quakers upset the Blue Devils 7-4 last season in Philadelphia, while the Dolphins meet up with Duke for the third straight season.
The Blue Devils open their ACC slate March 3 at Maryland. Duke upended the Terrapins last year in overtime during the regular season before Maryland exacted revenge with wins in the ACC Championship game and the NCAA semifinals. One week later, Duke returns to the state of Maryland for a matchup at Loyola. Having played each other in each of the previous 12 seasons, Duke looks to continue their domination in the series that features just four losses since 2000.
The grueling portion of the schedule continues as Duke plays three games over the seven days, including the annual rivalry game between the Blue Devils and North Carolina. Sandwiched between meetings with Harvard and Dartmouth, Duke and the Tar Heels face off March 16 in Durham at 5:00 p.m. Duke has won 13 of the previous 14 outings against North Carolina. Duke and Harvard will meet for the fourth straight season March 12 and will battle Dartmouth March 18.
For the 20th consecutive season, Duke and Georgetown will tangle. Duke will travel to the nation's capital March 24 in search of its fourth straight win over the Hoyas. The Blue Devils turn around three days later to host Brown, March 27 at 3:00 p.m.
The first of the two major lacrosse events is up next as Duke heads north to MetLife Stadium for the Konica Minolta Big City Classic against Syracuse on April 1 at 4:00 p.m. The Orange won last season's contest at MetLife Stadium and has lost just once to the Blue Devils in the seven meetings.
Duke closes out the regular season with one home game and two trips. The Blue Devils host Marist April 7 before traveling to play reigning national champion Virginia April 13 in Charlottesville.
The regular season finale is the final major lacrosse event before the NCAA Tournament begins. Duke will make its first trip west of the Mississippi since 2007 for the Mile High Classic. The Blue Devils will go up against Denver at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, April 27 at 10 p.m. (ET). The Pioneers defeated Duke a year ago in the Battle at Bethpage and advanced to the NCAA semifinals before losing to eventual champion Virginia.
The ACC Tournament comes in between the Virginia and Denver contests on April 20 and 22. Virginia will serve as the host for the 2012 event with both semifinals and final being televised by ESPN.
Day & Date Opponent Location Time (EST)
Sat, Jan 28 Navy (exhibition) Durham, N.C. 8:30 a.m.
Sat, Feb 04 Blue vs. White Durham, N.C. 12:00 p.m.
Sat, Feb 11 Rutgers Durham, N.C. 1:00 p.m.
Sat, Feb 18 Notre Dame South Bend, Ind. 1:00 p.m.
Fri, Feb 24 Penn Durham, N.C. 7:00 p.m.
Sun, Feb 26 Jacksonville Durham, N.C. 1:00 p.m.
Sat, Mar 03 Maryland * College Park, Md. TBA
Sat, Mar 10 Loyola Baltimore, Md. 12:00 p.m.
Mon, Mar 12 Harvard Durham, N.C. 7:00 p.m.
Fri, Mar 16 North Carolina * Durham, N.C. 5:00 p.m.
Sun, Mar 18 Dartmouth Durham, N.C. 7:00 p.m.
Sat, Mar 24 Georgetown Washington, DC 12:00 p.m.
Tue, Mar 27 Brown Durham, N.C. 3:00 p.m.
Sun, Apr 01 Syracuse East Rutherford, N.J. 4:00 p.m.
Sat, Apr 07 Marist Durham, N.C. TBA
Fri, Apr 13 Virginia * Charlottesville, Va. 6:00 p.m.
Fri, Apr 20 ACC Semifinals Charlottesville, Va. TBA
Sun, Apr 22 ACC Finals Charlottesville, Va. 3:30 p.m.
Fri, Apr 27 Denver Denver, Colo. 10:00 p.m.
* Conference games