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Women's Soccer Recruit Spotlight: Michelle Cooper
12/16/2020 2:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C.— Head coach Robbie Church and the Duke women's soccer staff signed four student-athletes in November in the early signing period that will don the Blue Devil uniform starting in August of 2021.
GoDuke.com will get to know the future Blue Devils over the next couple of months.
The first spotlight is Michelle Cooper, who is a 5-3 forward from Clarkston, Mich., and attends IMG Academy. A fixture on the U.S. National Teams since 2016, Cooper most recently traveled to La Manga, Spain with the U-19 National Team. She is listed No. 18 in the class of 2021 by TopDrawerSoccer and the No. 5 forward in the 2021 class. Cooper collected 40 goals over the last two seasons with IMG Academy.
#GoDuke
GoDuke.com: What made you choose Duke?
Michelle Cooper: I chose Duke University because it has everything I need to succeed on and off the field. The academics are astonishing and the soccer program is a perfect fit for me! The environment on campus is like no other!
GD: Tell us a about your soccer game and what you hope to bring to Duke?
MC: I consider myself very dynamic and versatile player up top. My athleticism has helped me thrive at all levels of the game. By bringing these strengths, I strive to become a reliable asset for Duke women's soccer family!
GD: Favorite NWSL Player?
MC: Julie Ertz
GD: Most excited for at Duke (soccer and not soccer)?
MC: When I am not playing soccer, I am most excited for meeting new people and having new adventures. When I am playing soccer, I'm excited to grow as a player and person with new teammates in a new environment.
GD: What is a fun fact/skill/talent people may not know about you?
MC: A fun fact about me is that I have been to seven different countries by the time I was 16.
GD: Who are your biggest inspirations on and off the pitch?
MC: On and off the pitch, my biggest inspirations are my mom and sister. Day-to-day they inspire me to be a great person, student and athlete.
GD: What is your proudest moment on the soccer field so far?
MC: My proudest moment on the field is when I traveled to the Delle Nazioni Tournament in Gradisca, Italy in 2018. I started against China in the finals and scored the first goal of the match.
GD: What age did you start playing soccer?
MC: I started playing soccer at the age of 4.
GD: Did you play other sports growing up?
MC: I also played basketball and track throughout middle school.
Quick Hitters:
Favorite Athlete: Julie Ertz
Hobbies: Discovering new types of music
Favorite TV Show: Vampire Diaries
Favorite Movie: Divergent
Latest show you watched on television/Netflix? Outer Banks
If you were to play another sport, what would it be? I would either run track or play basketball.
Mountains or Beach: Mountains
Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream: Soft serve vanilla with M&M's
Any Pregame Rituals? Before I arrive at the locker room I shower and braid my hair. I also put my left shoe on and tie it before I put my right shoe on and tie it.
GoDuke.com will get to know the future Blue Devils over the next couple of months.
The first spotlight is Michelle Cooper, who is a 5-3 forward from Clarkston, Mich., and attends IMG Academy. A fixture on the U.S. National Teams since 2016, Cooper most recently traveled to La Manga, Spain with the U-19 National Team. She is listed No. 18 in the class of 2021 by TopDrawerSoccer and the No. 5 forward in the 2021 class. Cooper collected 40 goals over the last two seasons with IMG Academy.
#GoDuke
GoDuke.com: What made you choose Duke?
Michelle Cooper: I chose Duke University because it has everything I need to succeed on and off the field. The academics are astonishing and the soccer program is a perfect fit for me! The environment on campus is like no other!
GD: Tell us a about your soccer game and what you hope to bring to Duke?
MC: I consider myself very dynamic and versatile player up top. My athleticism has helped me thrive at all levels of the game. By bringing these strengths, I strive to become a reliable asset for Duke women's soccer family!
GD: Favorite NWSL Player?
MC: Julie Ertz
GD: Most excited for at Duke (soccer and not soccer)?
MC: When I am not playing soccer, I am most excited for meeting new people and having new adventures. When I am playing soccer, I'm excited to grow as a player and person with new teammates in a new environment.
GD: What is a fun fact/skill/talent people may not know about you?
MC: A fun fact about me is that I have been to seven different countries by the time I was 16.
GD: Who are your biggest inspirations on and off the pitch?
MC: On and off the pitch, my biggest inspirations are my mom and sister. Day-to-day they inspire me to be a great person, student and athlete.
GD: What is your proudest moment on the soccer field so far?
MC: My proudest moment on the field is when I traveled to the Delle Nazioni Tournament in Gradisca, Italy in 2018. I started against China in the finals and scored the first goal of the match.
GD: What age did you start playing soccer?
MC: I started playing soccer at the age of 4.
GD: Did you play other sports growing up?
MC: I also played basketball and track throughout middle school.
Quick Hitters:
Favorite Athlete: Julie Ertz
Hobbies: Discovering new types of music
Favorite TV Show: Vampire Diaries
Favorite Movie: Divergent
Latest show you watched on television/Netflix? Outer Banks
If you were to play another sport, what would it be? I would either run track or play basketball.
Mountains or Beach: Mountains
Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream: Soft serve vanilla with M&M's
Any Pregame Rituals? Before I arrive at the locker room I shower and braid my hair. I also put my left shoe on and tie it before I put my right shoe on and tie it.
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