Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus #1 Stanford on December 5, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
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Final
Women's Soccer
0
vs #1 Stanford
1
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Avery Rape Recaps Her Trip to London
7/28/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Hey Duke fans!
I just recently got back from a great experience in London where I spent three weeks taking an accounting class at the London School of Economics. This was the first time I had traveled to Europe alone and lived somewhere besides the United States.
I have to admit I was really nervous at first and when I got off the plane I was not exactly sure what to do. I arrived a few days early because I wanted to explore London before my class started and would not be joined by any familiar faces from Duke for four days.
Once I settled in my dorm, I began my journey by wandering through the streets and getting familiar with the area I was living in. Over my first weekend, I made my way to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, House of Parliament, and the British Museum where they had the Olympic Medals on display.
Once my class began the following Monday, the four hours a day of class slowed down my ability to explore the city. However, I still managed to make it out to Wimbledon, where I indulged in the famous strawberries and cream while watching the mixed doubles quarterfinals.
I also found time to attend a comedy club one evening and tour the Tower of London. Over my second weekend, I attended Barclay's Wireless Music Festival in Hyde Park, one of the biggest parks in London. This was an event I had been looking forward to for months -- to which the entire Duke women's soccer team can attest. Rihanna was the headliner for the weekend and I had never seen her perform before. Still not accustomed to the London weather and not prepared with rain boots, I ended up watching her perform in the pouring rain with 65,000 people in the crowd and plastic bags over my feet/flip flops and ankles deep in mud. All the performers over the three-day festival were amazing and it was an experience unlike any other I've had before.
My second week I made my way over to popular shopping/touristy areas such as Picadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Trafalgar Square and St. Paul's Cathedral -- all while passing my midterm exam. The Nike Store in Oxford Circus was five floors of everything Nike you could possibly imagine -- any athlete's dream world. I also got to spend a few hours one day with England native James Belshaw from the Duke men's soccer team. That Saturday I traveled to Oxford with a few friends to visit fellow Blue Devil, Jack Willoughby. He showed us around the incredible campus and we even got to see some famous spots where Harry Potter was filmed. On Sunday, I made my way over to Cambridge where my 16 year-old cousin is studying for a month. He showed me around the famous King's College and I spent the day with him and his friends before returning to London.
My last week I made my way over to Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms, which is an incredible underground bomb shelter from WWII. I also visited Harrods, the most unbelievable department store I have ever seen. They sold everything any person/pet could ever dream of -- from underwater submarines to human size teddy bears. My favorite spot in the store was the pet palace where an adorable Puggle puppy caught my eye and stole my heart. After contemplating whether or not I should purchase this adorable best-friend-to-be, I decided that he probably wouldn't be a great traveling companion and that my mom most likely would not greet a new puppy with open arms considering I can barely control the one I already have.
Last but definitely not least, the most exciting moment of my trip was my visit to Olympic Village to see Duke diver Abby Johnston, who had just arrived in London and is preparing to make her Olympic debut next weekend. Luckily she was able to get a guest pass and showed me around the village where all the athletes live during the Olympics.
Although a lot of athletes still hadn't arrived, you could feel the excitement in the air. We explored the lounge where they had all sorts of gaming consoles and even a Beats Lounge where the athletes could make videos and music during their free time. Next we explored the massive dining hall where the athletes go to eat as much food as they want from all over the world, and all for free, of course. Before we headed to dinner in the near by mall, she showed me her room and her newly acquired Olympic gear, which I couldn't keep my hands off. I am so thankful that she took the time out of her day to show me around a place that most people will never get to see in their lives and I know she will do amazing in her events over the next few weeks.
After a quick but fun-filled three weeks in London, I am excited to leave the rain and get back to the California sun to enjoy my last week with my family before heading back to campus. Overall, I had a phenomenal summer full of unforgettable experiences and couldn't be more excited for the upcoming DWS season, as we get ready to start our journey back to the national championship! I want to thank everyone for their support of my summer experiences and can't wait to see all your familiar faces in the stands in a few weeks!
Go Duke!
Avery Rape
I just recently got back from a great experience in London where I spent three weeks taking an accounting class at the London School of Economics. This was the first time I had traveled to Europe alone and lived somewhere besides the United States.
I have to admit I was really nervous at first and when I got off the plane I was not exactly sure what to do. I arrived a few days early because I wanted to explore London before my class started and would not be joined by any familiar faces from Duke for four days.
Once I settled in my dorm, I began my journey by wandering through the streets and getting familiar with the area I was living in. Over my first weekend, I made my way to Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, House of Parliament, and the British Museum where they had the Olympic Medals on display.
Once my class began the following Monday, the four hours a day of class slowed down my ability to explore the city. However, I still managed to make it out to Wimbledon, where I indulged in the famous strawberries and cream while watching the mixed doubles quarterfinals.
I also found time to attend a comedy club one evening and tour the Tower of London. Over my second weekend, I attended Barclay's Wireless Music Festival in Hyde Park, one of the biggest parks in London. This was an event I had been looking forward to for months -- to which the entire Duke women's soccer team can attest. Rihanna was the headliner for the weekend and I had never seen her perform before. Still not accustomed to the London weather and not prepared with rain boots, I ended up watching her perform in the pouring rain with 65,000 people in the crowd and plastic bags over my feet/flip flops and ankles deep in mud. All the performers over the three-day festival were amazing and it was an experience unlike any other I've had before.
My second week I made my way over to popular shopping/touristy areas such as Picadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Trafalgar Square and St. Paul's Cathedral -- all while passing my midterm exam. The Nike Store in Oxford Circus was five floors of everything Nike you could possibly imagine -- any athlete's dream world. I also got to spend a few hours one day with England native James Belshaw from the Duke men's soccer team. That Saturday I traveled to Oxford with a few friends to visit fellow Blue Devil, Jack Willoughby. He showed us around the incredible campus and we even got to see some famous spots where Harry Potter was filmed. On Sunday, I made my way over to Cambridge where my 16 year-old cousin is studying for a month. He showed me around the famous King's College and I spent the day with him and his friends before returning to London.
My last week I made my way over to Churchill's Cabinet War Rooms, which is an incredible underground bomb shelter from WWII. I also visited Harrods, the most unbelievable department store I have ever seen. They sold everything any person/pet could ever dream of -- from underwater submarines to human size teddy bears. My favorite spot in the store was the pet palace where an adorable Puggle puppy caught my eye and stole my heart. After contemplating whether or not I should purchase this adorable best-friend-to-be, I decided that he probably wouldn't be a great traveling companion and that my mom most likely would not greet a new puppy with open arms considering I can barely control the one I already have.
Last but definitely not least, the most exciting moment of my trip was my visit to Olympic Village to see Duke diver Abby Johnston, who had just arrived in London and is preparing to make her Olympic debut next weekend. Luckily she was able to get a guest pass and showed me around the village where all the athletes live during the Olympics.
Although a lot of athletes still hadn't arrived, you could feel the excitement in the air. We explored the lounge where they had all sorts of gaming consoles and even a Beats Lounge where the athletes could make videos and music during their free time. Next we explored the massive dining hall where the athletes go to eat as much food as they want from all over the world, and all for free, of course. Before we headed to dinner in the near by mall, she showed me her room and her newly acquired Olympic gear, which I couldn't keep my hands off. I am so thankful that she took the time out of her day to show me around a place that most people will never get to see in their lives and I know she will do amazing in her events over the next few weeks.
After a quick but fun-filled three weeks in London, I am excited to leave the rain and get back to the California sun to enjoy my last week with my family before heading back to campus. Overall, I had a phenomenal summer full of unforgettable experiences and couldn't be more excited for the upcoming DWS season, as we get ready to start our journey back to the national championship! I want to thank everyone for their support of my summer experiences and can't wait to see all your familiar faces in the stands in a few weeks!
Go Duke!
Avery Rape
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Men's Soccer
Diving
/ Swimming & Diving
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
K
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