DURHAM, N.C.-Duke University junior Brendan Fowler has been selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his performances at the faceoff X in the Blue Devils' opening weekend. Duke went 1-1 to start the season with the loss coming to No. 9 Denver.

Fowler finished the weekend with 19 ground balls and won 59 percent (30-of-51) faceoffs to help Duke go 1-1 in back-to-back games. In his debut as Duke's top player at the faceoff, Fowler won 18-of-30 restarts and picked up a career-high 11 ground balls as the ninth-ranked Pioneers edged Duke 14-12.

The following afternoon, the Wantagh, N.Y., native went 12-of-21 at the draw with eight ground balls in the 21-9 victory over Jacksonville. Fowler returns to the lacrosse field for the Blue Devils after suiting up for the football squad in the fall.

Duke, ranked sixth preseason, welcomes No. 3 Notre Dame to town Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. It will be the fourth straight year the Blue Devils and Irish will have faced off in the month of February.

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