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Women’s Soccer Eyes Redemption in the Comeback Season
8/15/2024 1:47:00 PM | Women's Soccer
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DURHAM, N.C.-- As the 2024 season approaches, the Duke's women's soccer team is on a mission to bounce back stronger, smarter, and more determined than ever. Last season may not have ended as they hoped, but the Blue Devils are laser-focused on rewriting their narrative this year.
The 2023 season was a mixed bag for Duke. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, the team faced unexpected hurdles that kept them from reaching their full potential. Injuries, inconsistency and a few heartbreaking losses left the Blue Devils with unfinished business.
The team had a challenging 2023 season, finishing with a record of 6-7-3. The team ended the season on a two-game losing streak and missed the postseason for only the second time under the direction of head coach Robbie Church.
However, if there's one thing this team has learned, it's how to grow from adversity.
A key advantage for the team this season is the return of experienced fifth-year players, who provide valuable leadership and maturity. Their presence is expected to help stabilize the squad, particularly in tight games where experience can make the difference.
Fifth-year defender, Katie Groff, is one of those key players in this resurgence of energy, offering an inside understanding of what was observed in her senior season.
"It's easy to make excuses, and you can point out injuries or goal-deciding games and say how close certain games were but honestly, it didn't go our way," said Groff. "In games that we could have won, we tied. Games we could have tied, we lost. And you know, if you do that enough, the season will get away from you and I think that's what happened."
Nonetheless, Groff and many of her teammates took their senior season as a way to push forward positively, rather than focusing on the negative.
"It feels like such a long time ago because we feel like a different team with a different identity right now," added Groff. "I feel like we've almost had the longest preseason because it started last fall, which we have never really done before, but we didn't give ourselves time to feel sorry for ourselves. Instead, I feel like we were already just motivated."
Following this similar mindset is fellow fifth-year midfielder and returning captain, Maggie Graham. Graham expressed that the team had some challenges with scoring last season, but adding significant offensive firepower with the new transfers and incoming freshmen offers the opportunity to bounce back as forces to be reckoned with this season.
"The transfers have been great. Farrah (Walters) and Mia (Oliaro) joined mid-year and were able to spend the entire spring with us, which was crucial as we were rebuilding and adjusting to the new energy of the team," said Graham. "They've already settled in so well that it feels like they've been here forever."
Graham kept emphasizing the importance of new energy to the field and how these new faces and names understand their vital roles in this new season.
"They understand what's expected of them and they're bringing fresh creativity and energy that we didn't have before," said Graham. "Having new faces around always introduces variety and innovation, which is great for the team. They're also motivating the more experienced players to elevate their game. We weigh more numbers than we've ever had and it's just a great environment."
Alongside the returning fifth-years, the team is also focusing on strengthening their mental resilience and maintaining momentum throughout the season.
Junior forward and returning leading scorer, Kat Rader, understood that the pieces of the puzzle were there last season the team had just struggled to fit them into place.
"We had lost a lot of players coming off my freshman year and so we were rebuilding," said Rader. "I just think that the rebuilding process came out onto the field, not everything we wanted to come off. We had a talented group, but it just wasn't our year, and I think this year we have a whole different mentality and we're all just super excited to turn the page and learn off last year to rewrite our narrative."
At the heart of the team's motivation stands Church, who is entering his 24th and final season with the Blue Devils. The going joke between Church and his fifth years and seniors is the idea of retiring together, pushing the team to ensure they end on as many high notes as possible.
Graham captured this sentiment perfectly, saying:
"We joke that we're all retiring together—us fifth-years, the seniors, and Robbie (Church). It's like he waited for this year. So, with this being Robbie's last season and many of ours, there's a strong desire to make it special. Even before he officially announced it, we were already determined to have the most successful season possible. That motivation hasn't changed; if anything, it's an extra push for us now. It would mean a lot to give him a memorable send-off, especially given all he's done for us."
However, Church remains focused on the present, committed to rebuilding the program with his current team. When asked to reflect on last season, he emphasized the hard work the team immediately put in to move forward.
"We just all went to work," said Church. "Nobody blamed anybody. We knew our standards were better, we knew our program. But you know, looking at it now, you know, sometimes maybe that's the best thing that happens for you is that you don't live up to expectations. You have to reevaluate. The staff did a great job reevaluating, looking at everything for our spring and going forward and in the players just the first day of training all the way through because you look at that and that could be that situation to be in a very negative situation. And it could be a negative, you know, put another spin on what was not a great year, but they turned it into a positive situation. Because once we got the training there it was extremely hard. We worked hard and the mentality came back, and the confidence came back."
Church and the rest of the staff reloaded with four transfers that can all put the ball in the back of the net – Walters (Santa Clara), Oliaro (North Carolina), Hannah Bebar (Harvard) and Ella Hase (Northwestern). The four combined to play in 141 matches with 132 starts, scored 48 goals, added 42 assists and notched 138 points over their careers.
Along with the transfers, Duke received the boost of fifth-year returners Groff, Graham and Nicky Chico that have combined to see action in 12,407 minutes, appeared in 203 matches, made 129 starts, scored 15 goals, notched 16 assists and posted 46 points over the last four seasons with the Blue Devils.
Mix in the transfers, fifth-years, incoming freshmen and returning letterwinners, Duke is primed to contend for a fourth NCAA College Cup appearance in the direction of Church. The last time the Blue Devils missed the postseason was in 2014 and the following year Church guided Duke to the NCAA Championship match.
Duke will be looking for the same response as 2015.
The Blue Devils have already showcased this mentality and drive for redemption in their annual exhibition game against Furman, securing a 9-0 victory. Nine different Duke players scored and five others assisted in the match.
Now, with the stakes rising, they are set to face Ohio State Thursday at 7 p.m. on the road in Columbus, Ohio live on B1G+.
Despite the challenge from the previous year, Church highlighted the team's strong preparation and his excitement for this season.
"We know it's a quality, quality team that we face in the opener at OSU," said Church. "You're going to go to Columbus, Ohio and playing on their home field. Everybody on our team has been very adaptable, flexible, and they've all come out strong. We've had some good training and obviously a great exhibition game. I'm excited to roll out the season and get it started, because I think this could be a really special season."
#GoDuke
DURHAM, N.C.-- As the 2024 season approaches, the Duke's women's soccer team is on a mission to bounce back stronger, smarter, and more determined than ever. Last season may not have ended as they hoped, but the Blue Devils are laser-focused on rewriting their narrative this year.
The 2023 season was a mixed bag for Duke. Despite showing flashes of brilliance, the team faced unexpected hurdles that kept them from reaching their full potential. Injuries, inconsistency and a few heartbreaking losses left the Blue Devils with unfinished business.
The team had a challenging 2023 season, finishing with a record of 6-7-3. The team ended the season on a two-game losing streak and missed the postseason for only the second time under the direction of head coach Robbie Church.
However, if there's one thing this team has learned, it's how to grow from adversity.
A key advantage for the team this season is the return of experienced fifth-year players, who provide valuable leadership and maturity. Their presence is expected to help stabilize the squad, particularly in tight games where experience can make the difference.
Fifth-year defender, Katie Groff, is one of those key players in this resurgence of energy, offering an inside understanding of what was observed in her senior season.
"It's easy to make excuses, and you can point out injuries or goal-deciding games and say how close certain games were but honestly, it didn't go our way," said Groff. "In games that we could have won, we tied. Games we could have tied, we lost. And you know, if you do that enough, the season will get away from you and I think that's what happened."
Nonetheless, Groff and many of her teammates took their senior season as a way to push forward positively, rather than focusing on the negative.
"It feels like such a long time ago because we feel like a different team with a different identity right now," added Groff. "I feel like we've almost had the longest preseason because it started last fall, which we have never really done before, but we didn't give ourselves time to feel sorry for ourselves. Instead, I feel like we were already just motivated."
Following this similar mindset is fellow fifth-year midfielder and returning captain, Maggie Graham. Graham expressed that the team had some challenges with scoring last season, but adding significant offensive firepower with the new transfers and incoming freshmen offers the opportunity to bounce back as forces to be reckoned with this season.
"The transfers have been great. Farrah (Walters) and Mia (Oliaro) joined mid-year and were able to spend the entire spring with us, which was crucial as we were rebuilding and adjusting to the new energy of the team," said Graham. "They've already settled in so well that it feels like they've been here forever."
Graham kept emphasizing the importance of new energy to the field and how these new faces and names understand their vital roles in this new season.
"They understand what's expected of them and they're bringing fresh creativity and energy that we didn't have before," said Graham. "Having new faces around always introduces variety and innovation, which is great for the team. They're also motivating the more experienced players to elevate their game. We weigh more numbers than we've ever had and it's just a great environment."
Alongside the returning fifth-years, the team is also focusing on strengthening their mental resilience and maintaining momentum throughout the season.
Junior forward and returning leading scorer, Kat Rader, understood that the pieces of the puzzle were there last season the team had just struggled to fit them into place.
"We had lost a lot of players coming off my freshman year and so we were rebuilding," said Rader. "I just think that the rebuilding process came out onto the field, not everything we wanted to come off. We had a talented group, but it just wasn't our year, and I think this year we have a whole different mentality and we're all just super excited to turn the page and learn off last year to rewrite our narrative."
At the heart of the team's motivation stands Church, who is entering his 24th and final season with the Blue Devils. The going joke between Church and his fifth years and seniors is the idea of retiring together, pushing the team to ensure they end on as many high notes as possible.
Graham captured this sentiment perfectly, saying:
"We joke that we're all retiring together—us fifth-years, the seniors, and Robbie (Church). It's like he waited for this year. So, with this being Robbie's last season and many of ours, there's a strong desire to make it special. Even before he officially announced it, we were already determined to have the most successful season possible. That motivation hasn't changed; if anything, it's an extra push for us now. It would mean a lot to give him a memorable send-off, especially given all he's done for us."
However, Church remains focused on the present, committed to rebuilding the program with his current team. When asked to reflect on last season, he emphasized the hard work the team immediately put in to move forward.
"We just all went to work," said Church. "Nobody blamed anybody. We knew our standards were better, we knew our program. But you know, looking at it now, you know, sometimes maybe that's the best thing that happens for you is that you don't live up to expectations. You have to reevaluate. The staff did a great job reevaluating, looking at everything for our spring and going forward and in the players just the first day of training all the way through because you look at that and that could be that situation to be in a very negative situation. And it could be a negative, you know, put another spin on what was not a great year, but they turned it into a positive situation. Because once we got the training there it was extremely hard. We worked hard and the mentality came back, and the confidence came back."
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— Duke Women's Soccer (@DukeWSOC) August 15, 2024
Church and the rest of the staff reloaded with four transfers that can all put the ball in the back of the net – Walters (Santa Clara), Oliaro (North Carolina), Hannah Bebar (Harvard) and Ella Hase (Northwestern). The four combined to play in 141 matches with 132 starts, scored 48 goals, added 42 assists and notched 138 points over their careers.
Along with the transfers, Duke received the boost of fifth-year returners Groff, Graham and Nicky Chico that have combined to see action in 12,407 minutes, appeared in 203 matches, made 129 starts, scored 15 goals, notched 16 assists and posted 46 points over the last four seasons with the Blue Devils.
Mix in the transfers, fifth-years, incoming freshmen and returning letterwinners, Duke is primed to contend for a fourth NCAA College Cup appearance in the direction of Church. The last time the Blue Devils missed the postseason was in 2014 and the following year Church guided Duke to the NCAA Championship match.
Duke will be looking for the same response as 2015.
The Blue Devils have already showcased this mentality and drive for redemption in their annual exhibition game against Furman, securing a 9-0 victory. Nine different Duke players scored and five others assisted in the match.
Now, with the stakes rising, they are set to face Ohio State Thursday at 7 p.m. on the road in Columbus, Ohio live on B1G+.
Despite the challenge from the previous year, Church highlighted the team's strong preparation and his excitement for this season.
"We know it's a quality, quality team that we face in the opener at OSU," said Church. "You're going to go to Columbus, Ohio and playing on their home field. Everybody on our team has been very adaptable, flexible, and they've all come out strong. We've had some good training and obviously a great exhibition game. I'm excited to roll out the season and get it started, because I think this could be a really special season."
#GoDuke
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