April 7, 2004

Head coach Beth Bozman announced the 2004 Duke University field hockey schedule on Tuesday, April 6. The schedule is highlighted by 10 home contests and eight games against teams that finished the year ranked in the top 20 of the STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll.

"We are excited about the '04 schedule," said Bozman. "It's tough! We'll face nationally ranked opponents every weekend. We will be constantly tested. But that's what makes it so exciting and so much fun."

Duke opens the season in Lansing, Mich. with contests against Michigan State (Aug. 28) and Louisville (Aug. 29). After home contests against New Hampshire (Sept. 4) and Towson (Sept. 5), the Blue Devils travel to Wake Forest (Sept. 11) for a rematch of last year's NCAA national championship game.

A six-game homestand follows the Wake Forest match as Kent State (Sept. 12), James Madison (Sept. 18), Old Dominion (Sept. 19), North Carolina (Sept. 25), Radford (Oct. 2) and Davidson (Oct. 3) each make the trip to Williams Field.

An ACC game on Oct. 9 against Maryland kicks of a six-game road trip, with Duke also taking on UMBC (Oct. 10), William & Mary (Oct. 16), Old Dominion (Oct. 17), Penn State (Oct. 23) and Northwestern (Oct. 24).

The Blue Devils wrap up the regular season at home against Virginia (Oct. 30). The ACC Championship is scheduled for Nov. 4-7 with Wake Forest hosting this year's tournament.

Duke registered a school record 20 wins last season, while reaching the NCAA title game for the first time in program history. The Blue Devils return 15 players from a year ago, including their top five scorers. -