Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus #1 Stanford on December 5, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
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Women's Soccer
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Photo by: Duke Athletics
Women’s Soccer Set to Make Second Straight College Cup Appearance
12/4/2025 9:39:00 AM | Women's Soccer
A product of Roswell, Ga., Riley Jackson recently finished her second season with the North Carolina Courage. Once a Duke women's soccer commit, Jackson signed with the Courage during high school as a 17-year-old. Jackson is a former No. 1 ranked recruit nationally and was the 2021-22 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Jackson has been a contributing writer during the 2025 season for the Blue Devils telling stories of the Duke women's soccer program. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Duke women's soccer team is poised to take on top-ranked Stanford in Friday's NCAA College Cup semifinal match in Kansas City. The contest is set to kick off at 8:45 p.m. (ET) from CPKC Stadium live on ESPNU.
While not meeting during the regular season or ACC Tournament, the talented sides will face each other for the first time in 2025 on the biggest stage in college soccer. The fixture will be a must watch match as the Blue Devils eagerly await a chance to reach the championship match for the fourth time in program history, after falling just short in 2024.
Duke is competing in its sixth NCAA College Cup and became one of only 12 programs in history to attain back-to-back NCAA College Cup appearances. The 2025 squad has built on the success of last year's group, pushing limits and upholding the legacy left by former head coach Robbie Church. First year head coach Kieran Hall has delivered an impressive first season at the helm, guiding a young roster with remarkable poise. By advancing to the semifinals, Hall became just the third Division I head coach to take his team to the NCAA College Cup in their first season at the helm.
As a team, the Blue Devils have logged a 17-4-1 ledger on the season and enter Friday's contest winners of 11 out of their last 12 contests.
Duke put together one of its best performances of the season in the quarterfinals, dominating possession against a talented 13th-ranked Washington side. The Blue Devils fired 21 shots and secured a commanding 3-0 win, with goals by key veterans Kat Radar, Devin Lynch and Mia Minestrella. With that statement victory, Duke enters the semifinals with impressive momentum.
Rader and Minestrella have been tremendous during the 2025 NCAA Tournament combining to score eight out of Duke's nine goals and collected five assists as well.
While showcasing plenty of firepower in the attack, one of Duke's most notable strengths this season has been its defensive resilience. Anchored by junior center back Cameron Roller, the Blue Devils are the only team in the 2025 NCAA Tournament yet to concede a goal. The other members of the backline, including two freshmen – Daya King and Jocelyn Travers – and redshirt junior Elle Piper, have displayed maturity beyond their years and have gained valuable tournament experience this season that should give them the confidence they need to compete in the College Cup.
"There is a really high level of concentration and competitiveness amongst the group," said Hall. "We have a mentality to defend the goal and make it really difficult for the opponent and that is clear to see in the games and training every day. We know that we will score goals, but the fact that we have restricted our opponents to very few chances over the course of several games is very encouraging right now because that is what it takes to win."
The Blue Devils will continue to rely on their defense Friday against Stanford, who has been the top scoring team in the nation.
The journey back to the College Cup has been far from linear for the Blue Devils. After a strong start to the season, and then facing some adversity during ACC play, the squad is now playing their best soccer when it matters most. The group has emphasized steady growth throughout the season, demonstrating the discipline and focus that Coach Hall identifies as essential to the team's success.
"We are not thinking about winning a national championship," said Hall. "It's about approaching each game thinking that we have just got to be better than the opponent in front of us. We have to be in the moment and not think too far ahead. That has been the key for these young ladies, they haven't been distracted or too worried about external noise. The teams that are the most disciplined and focused on what is in front of them are the teams that are the most successful. So, we're not thinking about the national championship, we know that we have another game to win and we are going to do everything we can between now and then to prepare. Our preparation has been the same all season no matter the circumstances."
This season means more to several of Duke's veteran leaders. Radar and Piper, who were sidelined due to injury during last year's College Cup run, have returned to play pivotal roles in the team's success. Several other upperclassmen are also chasing the chance to cap their Duke careers with a national title. While the tournament holds personal meaning for many, the Blue Devils continue to emphasize their collective identity and a commitment to playing for one another that has become their strongest source of motivation heading into the weekend.
"It means a lot. It was obviously very heartbreaking last season and I think that we have taken so much from this season's ups and downs. We have gotten so much stronger in all aspects of our game so I am really excited to see where we can continue improving," said senior midfielder Carina Lageyre.
"I think this year I have been playing with a lot of perspective and bringing joy to the game," added Rader. "But besides myself, I think you can see how much our team loves each other by how much joy and energy that we play with. I think that is the biggest thing that we are going to try to bring to the College Cup. We are so united and want to win with each other so bad."
Watch the Blue Devils on the biggest stage of college soccer Friday against Stanford.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
#GoDuke
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