The Elon University women’s lacrosse team’s game against No. 8 Duke University Feb. 7 served as a progress report grading the team’s growth through one full year as an active program.

The Phoenix fell 17-8 to the Blue Devils.

Elon previously faced Duke in its inaugural season, losing 25-4 in Durham. That game happened precisely a year before Saturday’s contest. It was also Elon’s first lacrosse game ever.

In one short year, Elon has made waves across the state of North Carolina. It lost by just nine , as opposed to 21, to a top ten school in the nation, this is a staggering feat for a program so young.

“Any game we play, our opponents help us,” said sophomore attacker Sloane Kessler. “We can get better, and they will exploit our weaknesses. We just look at this as getting better going forward.”

Focusing on self-improvement rather than outcomes has been a healthy approach for the Phoenix. The team has treated every game so far as a learning experience.

“We never have expectations about wins and losses,” said head coach Josh Hexter, who won the Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year award last year. “Regardless of the opponent, we just want to raise our level of play.”

Hexter was hired from Duke’s staff, where he was both an assistant coach and associate head coach from 2005-2012. During his time with the team, the Blue Devils had a combined record of 119-42. His competitive spirit and knack for winning have both boosted Elon’s efforts throughout its short history.

Part of the Elon’s success has stemmed from the play put forth by its younger members.

The players on Elon’s roster are mostly freshmen and sophomores, with only two upperclassmen on the team. Freshman midfielder Stephanie Asher has made an immediate impact, scoring seven goals in just two games this year. Kessler won Freshman of the Year in the Atlantic Sun last year, and has scored five goals this season.

The Phoenix started the season with a commanding 24-8 win against Kennesaw State University Jan. 31, the most goals Elon has ever scored in a game.

The jump to the Colonial Athletic Association provides a new challenge for the Phoenix, which went 8-9 last year.

“We’re really excited about joining the CAA,” Kessler said. “There’s a lot of competitive teams in there, and with so much depth this year we’re really excited.”

With much of the lineup returning for at least two years, the Phoenix has time to grow as a team.

“The season is going to be great,” Hexter said after the Duke game. “We have a really fun, athletic group, and I think the second half this game is going to be a turning point for us.”

With so many young players, the outcome of games against big-name opponents down the road could be a different story.