No. 11 Duke Hosts Utah in Koskinen Stadium Friday Night

Friday, February 6

Durham, N.C.

5 p.m.

Duke University

Utah

Michael Ortlieb celebrates for Duke men's lacrosse

Photo by: Duke Athletics

No. 11 Duke Hosts Utah in Koskinen Stadium Friday Night

2/5/2026 1:16:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse

Game Notes Watch Live Stats

Gameday Information

Friday is "Lacrosse After Dark" and will feature an in-game DJ. Early arriving fans can pick up a pair of LED Blue Devil horns from the marketing table while supplies last. Also, the first 50 fans get a free cup of hot chocolate.
The game will be the first for the Blue Devils on Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium this season.

The Opening Faceoff

Duke is back in action Friday evening, hosting the second of its eight home games. The Blue Devils welcome Utah to Durham for a 5 p.m,. faceoff on ACC Network. Both teams opened the 2026 season with victories.
Benn Johnston and Max Sloat put their experience on display against Bellarmine, combining for 10 points (9g, 1a) in a 23-8 win over the Knights. Freshman Michael Ortlieb registered a hat trick in his first collegiate game, while Kyle Colsey had a goal and three assists in his debut. Liam Kershis added three goals from the midfield and Thomas Mencke dished two assists in his Duke debut.
The Blue Devils' stalwart defense returns mostly intact for 2026 and it did not miss a beat against Bellarmine. Duke held the Knights to just three goals in the first three quarters. The Knights went 25:53 without a goal and fired just three shots in the third frame. Henry Bard registered two caused turnovers to lead the way while Charlie Johnson had one takeaway and four caused turnovers.
Seven players registered their first career points in their first game in a Blue Devil uniform. True freshmen Ortlieb, Brady Scioletti, Will Tantillo combined for five goals and an assist. Transfers Colsey, Thomas Mencke and Owen Gaffney had two goals and six assists, while Austin Hicks had an assist after a redshirt season.

By the Numbers
45 - Percentage of points returning to the Blue Devils in 2026
52 - Career caused turnovers for Aidan Maguire, 15 shy of moving into the top five in Duke history
58 - Combined caused turnovers for Aidan Maguire and Johnson last season, the most by a defensive duo in Duke single-season history
167 - Saves needed by Patrick Jameison to move into the top five in Duke career history - 18 fewer than he had all of last season
7 - Blue Devils who registered their first career points in a Duke unifrom against Bellarmine
9 - Combined goals scored by veterans Benn Johnston and Max Sloat in the season opener
485 - Career wins for John Danowski - 15 away from becoming the first Division I men's lacrosse coach in NCAA history to reach 500
17 - Blue Devils who made their debuts in a Duke uniform versus Bellarmine, including nine true freshmen
6 - Points by Duke true freshmen against Bellarmine
5 - True freshmen who have registered at least three goals in their Duke debuts since the 2004 season
8 - Home games for Duke, five of which come in the first month of the season

Series History

Duke and Utah meet for the third time overall and for the second time in regular season action. The Blue Devils last defeated Utah, 19-7, in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
Only seven current Blue Devils played in that game, while the Utes have 14 players on their current roster who played in the game in 2024.

Ortlieb Joins Elite Company

With three goals in his debut against Bellarmine, Michael Ortlieb joined an elite group of Duke attackmen. Ortlieb is the fifth Blue Devil since 2004 to record at least three goals in his first game as a true freshman.
The most recent player to do so was Brennan O'Neill in 2021 against No. 7 Denver.

Youth Movement

The Blue Devils started two true freshmen on attack in a season opener for the first time under head coach John Danowski. The last time Duke had two freshmen start regularly at attack was 2011 - Jordan Wolf and Christian Walsh. Michael Ortlieb and Brady Scioletti combined for five goals in their debut.
Overall, nine of the 10 Blue Devil true freshmen saw action with Ortlieb, Sciolette, Anthony Drago, Will Tantillo, Will Pedicano playing significant minutes.