Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus #1 Stanford on December 5, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
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No. 8 Duke Travels to Georgia for Final Exhibition
8/15/2019 6:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. – In its final preseason match before opening the regular season, No. 8 Duke travels to Athens to face off against the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday, Aug. 16. The two teams are set for a 6 p.m. matchup at Turner Soccer Complex.
The showdown will feature a pair of familiar faces, as the Blue Devils matchup against Georgia head coach Billy Lesesne and assistant Katie Ely, who both served stints on the Duke coaching staff. Lesesne was a 14-year member of Robbie Church's staff, including spending his last 11 as the associate head coach. Ely was Duke's goalkeepers coach from 2011-12, which included the 2011 run to the NCAA College Cup Finals.
The Blue Devils return to the pitch after earning a 3-0 victory in the first exhibition contest of the preseason against Campbell Monday evening at Koskinen Stadium. Duke used a pair of goals from sophomore Marykate McGuire and one score from freshman Sophie Jones to secure the win.
31st Season of Duke Women's Soccer
The 2019 campaign marks the 31st season of Duke women's soccer. The Blue Devils own an all-time record of 397-22-64 across 30 seasons of play, including a 120-90-33 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Duke has made 24 all-time appearances in the NCAA Tournament, owning a record of 39-21-9 in tournament action. Most recently, the Blue Devils advanced to the Round of 16 a season ago, marking their 15th tournament appearance in the last 16 years. Head coach Robbie Church is entering his 19th season at the helm for Duke. Church owns a career record of 235-122-48 across his 18 seasons in Durham.
Blue Devils Picked to Finish Fourth in the ACC
The Blue Devils were picked to finish fourth for a second year in a row, receiving 155 points in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll. The trio of North Carolina (188 points), Florida State (185 points) and Virginia (163 points) took the top three spots ahead of Duke, while Clemson rounded out the top five with 121 points. Florida State received eight of the possible 14 first-place votes, with North Carolina collecting the other six.
Duke in the Preseason Top 10
Duke is ranked eighth in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 rankings, released last week. The Blue Devils were one of four ACC teams ranked in the top 10, and one of seven programs ranked inside the top 25. Additionally, Duke has now been preseason ranked in the top 10 for the fifth time and top 15 for the sixth time over the last eight seasons.
Returning Scorers for the Blue Devils
Despite losing its top two scorers from a season ago, the Blue Devils return the trio of Karlie Paschall, Marykate McGuire and Ella Stevens, who were top five for Duke in 2018 with 13 points apiece. Sophomore Mackenzie Pluck also added double digit points last season with 10. An All-Atlantic Region and All-ACC Selection in 2018, Stevens returns as Duke's top assists leader from last season with 11.
Marquee Freshman Class
Duke welcomes one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, as eight new faces comprise the Blue Devils' No. 5 nationally ranked class, including Julia Burnell, Emmy Duerr, Julia Hannon, Natalie Maurer, Sarah Miller, Ruthie Jones and Sophie Jones. This is the eighth-straight year that the Blue Devils have reeled in a top 10 recruiting class, as the squad showcases six players ranked in TopDrawerSoccer.com's Top 150, including five inside the top 75. The six Top 150 players are the most in Duke history since the class of 2014.
Looking Ahead for Duke
Friday's matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs marks the final exhibition contest of the preseason for the Blue Devils. The 2019 season officially begins Thursday, Aug. 22, as Duke opens the 2019 Carolina Nike Tournament against La Salle at 4 p.m.
#GoDuke
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