The women's lacrosse team looks to avenge its ailing season against North Carolina today in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament in Koskinen Stadium at 3:30 p.m.
The Blue Devils lost a disappointing game 10-4 to the Tar Heels March 16. The game had negative long-term effects on the Duke psyche.
"When we played Carolina, we didn't play well at all," coach Kirsten Kimel said. "I think it definitely had an impact on our confidence. The way we played that day was really hard for our kids to swallow. We didn't show up to play."
The players feel they are better prepared for this game.
"We're a lot better of a team now," senior Kelly Dirks said. "We've made a lot of adjustments, and we're ready to play them."
Junior Lauren Gallagher shared her teammate's opinion.
"I don't think we had our best game against them earlier this season," she said. "We're just coming out for revenge."
Although the players chanted "Go to Hell, Carolina," in a huddle at the end of their practice Thursday, the Duke-UNC women's lacrosse rivalry is somewhat different than in other sports.
"In a lot of other sports, the two schools hate each other," Kimel said. "I don't think our kids are like that. I know a lot of the girls are good friends with some of their players. Their coach and I are very good friends. I think in that regard, that we're different as far as the rivalries go."
The play will still be intense, and Duke will try to conquer all the adversity it has encountered this year.
The Blue Devils started the season No. 2 in the country, and inched up to the No. 1 ranking after defeating previously top-ranked Maryland.
Duke did this without its star and preseason national player of the year Kate Kaiser, who was lost for the season with an ACL tear.
But when fellow All-American Megan Walters also went down, it proved to be too much to bear.
Duke immediately was not the same team, and it did not help matters that senior Amanda Hughes, freshman Kristy Dirks and sophomore Courtney Fischer also went down with injuries.
A team that lacked depth from the start, Duke has lost a disappointing five games this season, although they were all to top 12 teams.
The Blue Devils are looking at the ACC Tournament to sublimate all of their adversity.
"We want it pretty badly after all our withdrawals," Dirks said.
In the other semifinal matchup, Virginia takes on Maryland at 1 p.m.
The winners of the two semifinal games will meet each other at noon Sunday.
Kimel said she hopes her team is poised to play for the championship.
"We're really excited to play Carolina," she said. "I think it's a matter of us coming out focused. It's just us trying to execute our game plan properly."
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