#2 Orange Face #15 Duke Saturday

Game Details: Saturday, March 18 | 12 p.m. | Durham, N.C.
TV: ACCNX
Radio: WJPZ 89.1 FM
Twitter: @Cuse | @CuseWLAX
Live Coverage: Stats
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Schedule | Roster
Duke Links: News | Schedule | Roster

DURHAM, N.C. – No. 2 Syracuse goes for its ninth straight win to start the season when it takes on No. 15 Duke on Saturday, March 18. Opening draw in Durham, N.C. is set for 12 p.m.

Fans can watch the game on ACCNX and listen to the action on WJPZ 89.1FM.

The Orange are off to a program-best 8-0 start, including a 3-0 mark in ACC play. The Blue Devils enter Saturday's game with a 4-4 overall record and a 0-3 mark against ACC opponents.

ORANGE NOTES
Saturday's game is the third of four straight for the Orange against teams ranked in the top 20. Two of those games will be against squads ranked in this week's top 10.

Syracuse is in a stretch where it is playing three of four games on the road. The Orange opened the season by playing six of their first seven games in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Syracuse continues to lead the nation in assists, averaging 10.00 per game. The Orange also rank second in scoring margin (8.38) and third in points per game (26.38), scoring offense (16.38) and shooting percentage (.526).

Senior Delaney Sweitzer ranks in the top five in a pair of statistical categories in the latest Division I rankings. She is second in the nation in save percentage (.578) and third in goals-against average (7.26).

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS
Duke is coming off a 15-14 loss to Yale, which extended it losing streak to three.

The Blue Devils have one of the top draw units in the country. Duke ranks seventh nationally in draw controls per game (17.25). Individually, Maddie Jenner ranks second, averaging 10.5 per contest.

Katie DeSimone leads the Blue Devils' offense with 36 points on 27 goals and nine assists. She has scored three or more goals six times this season.

Three different players have started in goal for Duke. The trio has combined for a 10.13 goals-against average and a .460 save percentage.

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's game marks the 10th all-time meeting between Syracuse and Duke. The Orange lead the all-time series, 7-2.

The Blue Devils visited the JMA Wireless Dome last season. Duke led, 9-2, after the first quarter and held a 12-7 advantage at halftime.

The Orange began their comeback in the third quarter as they scored the first four goals of the period. Meaghan Tyrrell scored three goals during the run, and her fourth of the period tied the score at 13-13 with 2:18 on the clock. The squads traded goals to start the fourth quarter before Syracuse scored four unanswered to take the lead for good. Sam Swart found the back of the net with 22 seconds on the clock for the 18-16 'Cuse win.

UP NEXT
Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome on Wednesday, March 22 to host No. 5 Stony Brook at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/ticketing.

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Players Mentioned

Sam Swart

Delaney Sweitzer

Meaghan Tyrrell

Syracuse University Athletics