Duke WLAX downs Towson in exhibition

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

DURHAM, N.C. – The preseason No. 6 Duke Blue Devils women’s lacrosse team hosted an exhibition game against the Towson Tigers at Koskinen Stadium on Saturday.

The two teams played two 30-minute halves with the Blue Devils topping the Tigers 16-8.

Katie Trees led Duke with four goals while Taylor Trimble added a hat trick to along with two apiece each from Brigid Smith, Kerrin Maurer, and Maddy Acton.

Blue Devils goalkeeper Kelsey Duryea played most of the game, making 11 saves in 58 minutes, while Angel Thompson came in for the final few and recorded a save.

Towson, coming off of an 11-8 season in 2014 and picked to finish first in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) as per 2015 preseason polls, was led by Duncan Paige’s two goals to go along with singles from six others.

The game helped to prepare both teams for the upcoming 2015 season which will start on Saturday for the Blue Devils as they travel to face in-state opponent, the Elon Phoenix.

Duke returns 25 letterwinners and eight starters from a year ago, including senior attacker Maurer, who garnered IWLCA All-America, All-South Region and All-ACC recognition in 2014, and senior midfielder Trimble, an All-South Region and All-ACC selection last spring.

The Blue Devils posted an 11-8 record in 2014 and finished ranked eighth in both the IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse final polls after advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals for the 10th consecutive season.