Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus #1 Stanford on December 5, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
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Graham, Pluck to Return for 2022 Season
2/4/2022 1:42:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM – Duke women's soccer seniors Delaney Graham and Mackenzie Pluck have each announced that they will use their extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic and compete for the Blue Devils in the 2022 season.
Graham and Pluck both played a key role in Duke's 2021 campaign that concluded with a 16-4-1 record, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Championship and a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Over their four-year careers in Durham, the pair have started a combined 137-of-166 matches and contributed to 53 Duke wins.
"We are really excited to have Delaney and Mackenzie back with us for the 2022 season," said head coach Robbie Church. "Along with being phenomenal students and phenomenal athletes on the field, they have greatly represented the program, the university and the athletic department in the community. They are both very dynamic players. They have been a big part of our program for four years, and going forward we're looking for them to have their best year ever. They will provide us with great leadership and experience, both on and off the field."
A two-time All-ACC selection, Graham has appeared in 82 career matches with 80 starts. She has established herself among the nation's most versatile players over the past four seasons, lining up as a defender, midfielder and forward. The Atlanta, Ga., native has netted four goals and dished out 12 assists for 20 career points, with her most recent highlight coming in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Championship when she scored the game-winner against Memphis. Graham earned United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region honors in each of the past two seasons. She has garnered a number of recognitions for her efforts off the pitch, including two CoSIDA Academic All-America and four All-ACC Academic Team distinctions.
Delaney has played the past two seasons at Duke alongside her sister, sophomore Maggie Graham.
"I think the main reason I'm coming back next year is that I'm just not ready to be done playing soccer yet," Graham said. "I've devoted my whole life to soccer, so I don't believe I'm emotionally prepared to let go of it at this time. I need at least one more year to enjoy it. It's also especially important to me to have one more year to play with Maggie. I'm really excited about this coming season because I have no doubt our team is going to be national championship caliber. It would be incredible to go out on top!"
Pluck has played in 20 or more matches in each of the last four years, amassing 18 goals and 21 assists for 57 points. Her career-high eight assists in 2021 led the Blue Devils and ranked ninth in the ACC. Pluck shot out to an impressive start in her senior campaign, finding the back of the net four times in the team's first six contests with two game-winners during that stretch. Her playmaking ability carried over into the role of distributor later in the season, as she recorded five assists in a six-match span in ACC play. Pluck is a three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree and has been included on the ACC Honor Roll each July since she arrived at Duke.
"Having this extra year of eligibility is blessing for many reasons," Pluck said. "I'm so grateful to have another opportunity to compete for a national championship. I know this team is special and I'm determined to leave with a championship trophy. Along with soccer, the school, people and environment are hard to turn down. I'm beyond excited to come back for one final year!"
Graham, Pluck and the Blue Devils will compete in five exhibition matches during the spring, beginning Thursday, March 3 when they take on the NWSL's North Carolina Courage in Cary, N.C., at 4 p.m. More information on the scrimmage, including field location and attendance policies, will be provided at a later date.
For more information on Duke women's soccer, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching 'DukeWSOC.'
#GoDuke
Graham and Pluck both played a key role in Duke's 2021 campaign that concluded with a 16-4-1 record, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Championship and a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Over their four-year careers in Durham, the pair have started a combined 137-of-166 matches and contributed to 53 Duke wins.
"We are really excited to have Delaney and Mackenzie back with us for the 2022 season," said head coach Robbie Church. "Along with being phenomenal students and phenomenal athletes on the field, they have greatly represented the program, the university and the athletic department in the community. They are both very dynamic players. They have been a big part of our program for four years, and going forward we're looking for them to have their best year ever. They will provide us with great leadership and experience, both on and off the field."
A two-time All-ACC selection, Graham has appeared in 82 career matches with 80 starts. She has established herself among the nation's most versatile players over the past four seasons, lining up as a defender, midfielder and forward. The Atlanta, Ga., native has netted four goals and dished out 12 assists for 20 career points, with her most recent highlight coming in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Championship when she scored the game-winner against Memphis. Graham earned United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region honors in each of the past two seasons. She has garnered a number of recognitions for her efforts off the pitch, including two CoSIDA Academic All-America and four All-ACC Academic Team distinctions.
Delaney has played the past two seasons at Duke alongside her sister, sophomore Maggie Graham.
"I think the main reason I'm coming back next year is that I'm just not ready to be done playing soccer yet," Graham said. "I've devoted my whole life to soccer, so I don't believe I'm emotionally prepared to let go of it at this time. I need at least one more year to enjoy it. It's also especially important to me to have one more year to play with Maggie. I'm really excited about this coming season because I have no doubt our team is going to be national championship caliber. It would be incredible to go out on top!"
Pluck has played in 20 or more matches in each of the last four years, amassing 18 goals and 21 assists for 57 points. Her career-high eight assists in 2021 led the Blue Devils and ranked ninth in the ACC. Pluck shot out to an impressive start in her senior campaign, finding the back of the net four times in the team's first six contests with two game-winners during that stretch. Her playmaking ability carried over into the role of distributor later in the season, as she recorded five assists in a six-match span in ACC play. Pluck is a three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree and has been included on the ACC Honor Roll each July since she arrived at Duke.
"Having this extra year of eligibility is blessing for many reasons," Pluck said. "I'm so grateful to have another opportunity to compete for a national championship. I know this team is special and I'm determined to leave with a championship trophy. Along with soccer, the school, people and environment are hard to turn down. I'm beyond excited to come back for one final year!"
Graham, Pluck and the Blue Devils will compete in five exhibition matches during the spring, beginning Thursday, March 3 when they take on the NWSL's North Carolina Courage in Cary, N.C., at 4 p.m. More information on the scrimmage, including field location and attendance policies, will be provided at a later date.
For more information on Duke women's soccer, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching 'DukeWSOC.'
#GoDuke
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