DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Blue Devils redshirt senior defenseman Casey Carroll was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Men’s Lacrosse Defensive Player of the week as announced by the conference on Tuesday.
Carroll, who played in his first game since May 27, 2007 after serving in the 3rd BN 75th Ranger Regiment of the U.S. Army, started for Duke’s close defense in a 16-10 victory over Jacksonville last Saturday.
Carroll recorded three caused turnovers and five ground balls and helped Duke force 21 Jacksonville turnovers en route to the season-opening win.
His five ground balls were the most tallied by a non-faceoff specialist.
Carroll was ready to start his final season of his collegiate career in 2013, but missed that opportunity after tearing his ACL in January of that year.
First donning a Blue Devils jersey on Feb. 28, 2004, Carroll competed for the Blue Devils for three seasons before suffering his first knee injury that ended his season in 2006, and left him with another year of eligibility.
Upon graduation in 2007, Carroll elected to serve his country and did so from 2007-12.
After recovering from his second career knee injury during the offseason, Carroll was ready to begin his final year and started it against Jacksonville.
“You can tell he’s excited to be out here, especially from last season when he got hurt,” fellow senior defenseman Chris Hipps said.
“You can tell he’s fired up to come and play every day. This is what he looks forward to.”
Currently enrolled in Duke’s Fuqua School of Business Master of Business Administration program and married to former Duke women’s soccer player Erin Hathorn, the husband and father of two sons possesses a maturity and previous playing experience that will be very beneficial to this year’s team.
Hipps and the rest of the Blue Devils appreciate what Carroll brings to the defensive corps of the defending national championship squad.
“It’s been great, especially because he’s coming from a different head coach from his years here, Hipps said.
“It’s been cool to kind of see some different playing styles – we’re learning from him, he’s learning from us. I know it’s gone both ways for sure.”