Tag Archives: Parker McKee

Duke Picked No. 5 in Preseason Poll

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Cue up the “No one believed in us” title defense.

Duke, despite holding the 2010 national championship, was picked fifth in the USILA preseason poll today, behind Virginia, Syracuse, North Carolina and Maryland. Virginia and Syracuse were the only teams to receive first-place votes, with eight and three, respectively.

The seemingly low ranking most likely comes because of the graduation of Ned Crotty, Max Quinzani, Parker McKee and other stars from last year’s team. The Blue Devils will return only six starters, although among those returning are C.J. Costabile and Justin Turri, who was named a second-team preseason All-American.

Duke starts its season Feb. 12 against Siena.

Blue Devils Dominate MLL Draft

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A jubilant Max Quinzani, shown here celebrating after last week's win, will suit up for the Boston Cannons next year.

For the first time in Major League Lacrosse history, three players from the same school were selected in the first four picks of the draft.

That school? None other than Duke, the newly minted national champions. Last night, forward Ned Crotty was taken by the Chicago Machine with the first overall selection—the first time Blue Devil ever to be picked first in the draft—while forward Max Quinzani and defenseman Parker McKee were selected third and fourth, respectively.

Quinzani, a native of Duxbury, Mass. will get a chance to play for his hometown team after being picked by the Boston Cannons. Parker McKee, who hails from Old Greenwich, Conn., will not be that far from his town, either—he’ll suit it up for the Long Island Lizards next season.

Inside Lacrosse: Blue Devils are preseason #1

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Senior Ned Crotty will lead a talented Blue Devil team this spring on a quest for a national title.

Senior Ned Crotty will lead a talented Blue Devil team this spring on a quest for the program's first national title.

The men’s lacrosse team has been named the team to beat for the upcoming 2009-2010 season in the Inside Lacrosse Face-Off Yearbook Top 25. The team returns its top four scorers from last season’s squad that amassed a 15-4 record and made it to the semi-finals of the NCAA tournament before falling to two-time defending champion Syracuse.

The Blue Devils-who have won four consecutive ACC championships-will be led by captains Ned Crotty, Sam Payton, Max Quinzani and Parker McKee and have hopes for winning a national championship.

1 – Duke
2009 Record: 15-4
2009 Goals Per Game: 11.74
2009 Goals Against Average: 8.42
The Skinny: A talent-laden team in each of the past few years, the Blue Devils have a great 1-2 punch at attack with Ned Crotty and Max Quinzani. Can 2010 be the year they finally get over the hump?

Rounding out the top five of the preseason rankings are Syracuse, Virginia, North Carolina and Cornell. The Blue Devils kick off their season on Feb. 13 against Bucknell in Atlanta, Ga.

Will this be the year that Duke lacrosse wins its first national title?

Five Blue Devils Named All-Americans

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Five members of the Blue Devil squad received All-American honors today, highlighted by senior Ned Crotty’s inclusion on the All-American first team.

Crotty, the ACC Player of the Year, made the second team last year as a midfielder. He switched positions after Zack Greer and Matt Danowski graduated, though, and leads the country this season with 76 points and 53 assists. Crotty is also a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, lacrosse’s equivalent of the Heisman.

Duke had one representative on the second team, defenseman Parker McKee. McKee was an honorable mention All-American last season, but has anchored the Blue Devil defense this year.

Other Blue Devils honored were attackman Max Quinzani–who earned third team recognition for the second time–senior Brad Ross (third team) and freshman C.J. Costabile (honorable mention).

Balanced Attack Leads Duke Past Navy

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Neither a 25-minute rain delay nor Navy’s typically stingy defense could slow down Duke Saturday night.

Under the lights in a muddy Koskinen Stadium, the No. 3 Blue Devils jumped all over the Midshipmen in the first half and never looked back. The result was a 10-0 lead at halftime, and an eventual 14-5 win for Duke over the Patriot League champions in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

After a scoreless first four minutes, Brad Ross put the Blue Devils on the board with a low, bouncing shot. Robert Rotanz scored with just under seven minutes to play in the first quarter to make it 2-0, and with that, the floodgates were open–though the rain mercifully held off the rest of the evening.  Duke led 6-0 at the end of the period, and extended that lead to 10 by intermission.

“I’m at a loss for words,” head coach John Danowski said. “Nobody expects to go up 10-0 in the first round of playoffs, especially against Navy. I’m not so surprised at the 10, but certainly surprised by the zero.”

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