While Duke had a preseason scrimmage against defending champions Wake Forest, Louisville scrimmaged alumni, some of whom played college sports more than 30 years ago. Although Duke lost its scrimmage 2-0 and Louisville won 11-0, expect the Blue Devils to be much sharper when the teams battle this weekend.
Duke opens its 2004 season against the Cardinals in the first round of the Champions Challenge this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The four-team tournament is in East Lansing, Mich., and Delaware and host Michigan State will play later in the afternoon. The winners will play for the title on Sunday, and there will also be a consolation game.
On paper, the Blue Devils should overpower the Cardinals, but that’s the last thing they’re thinking about.
“Coming off the season we had last year, we have a lot of high expectations,” junior Katie Grant said. “But pretty much our goal is to take every game at a time and not look too far ahead and too far to the finals, and to just win every game up until that point.”
Head coach Beth Bozman, although not pleased with her team’s effort against the Demon Deacons, is impressed with her team in practice so far this year.
“In every aspect we are further along [than this time last year],” Bozman said.
Six freshmen will make their collegiate debut against Louisville. First-year back Courtney Elliot is expected to step in and start right away on defense, midfielder Hilary Linton said. The roles of the highly-touted class of 2008 will grow as the season progresses.
If everything goes according to plan, the first tough opponent the freshmen and the rest of the Blue Devils should meet is Michigan State Sunday. The Spartans finished last year No. 5 in the nation and should be a good road test for Duke.
But if the Blue Devils stay true to their word, the only thing they will be thinking about Sunday is squashing the Cardinals.
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