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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech lacrosse team and head coach Megan Burker released their 2012 season schedule Tuesday and the slate will feature seven teams that finished last season ranked nationally. The Hokies are coming off their winningest season in 12 years as they will once again battle in the treacherous Atlantic Coast Conference that sent five teams to the NCAA Tournament last season, and also saw three teams in the semifinals.

After the squad travels to Johns Hopkins for a preseason play day, Tech will officially begin 2012 one week later, Saturday Feb. 18, as it hosts Presbyterian. The Hokies will remain at home for two more games, welcoming High Point and later William & Mary, who finished the 2011 season as the No. 22 team in the nation.

For its final outing in February, Tech hits the road for the first time. The Hokies will face a true test at NCAA Tournament participant James Madison in a midweek game. The Hokies will begin March with a pair of games at Thompson Field, hosting UC Davis for the first time in program history and later American.

Tech will kick off conference play in Newton, Mass., as it travels to Boston College on Saturday, March 10. The Hokies knocked off the Eagles in the regular season last year and will look to pick up their first ACC road win up North. In a quick and challenging turnaround, Tech returns to Blacksburg for one game as it hosts Duke in a midweek match-up. The Blue Devils finished 2011 as the No. 4 team in the country after advancing to the Final Four.

The Hokies hit the road again days later, first traveling to Mt. St. Mary’s and then Old Dominion before rounding out the month of March at home against Liberty.

Getting back into conference play, the Hokies will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to take on the Tar Heels on the first day of April before they get back to Blacksburg to host in-state rival Virginia on Saturday, April 7.

Before heading to Durham, N.C., for this year’s ACC Tournament April 19-22, Tech will travel to Longwood for a midweek night game and later close out conference action the following Saturday at Maryland, who lost in the national championship game last season.

For the first time since joining the ACC, Tech will conclude regular season action after the annual ACC Tournament as it hosts Columbia at Thompson Field.

For updates on Virginia Tech lacrosse, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Lax).