Completed Event: Women's Soccer versus #1 Stanford on December 5, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
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Final
Women's Soccer
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vs #1 Stanford
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Photo by: Duke Athletics
DWS: Blue Devil Alumni Spotlight - Sydney Simmons
5/22/2025 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. -- Throughout the spring and summer, GoDuke.com will continue to spotlight different Duke women's soccer alumni. Our next update is with Sydney Simmons, a 2022 Blue Devil graduate. She appeared in 61 matches over four seasons, while making 37 starts. Simmons, a native of Van Alstyne, Texas, was a midfielder that logged 3,623 minutes over her career.
GoDuke.com: Since graduating from Duke, what have you been up to?
Sydney Simmons: After graduating from Duke in May 2022, I took a gap year which gave me the incredible opportunity to travel while preparing for the next chapter of my career. My solo trips took me to Vietnam, Greece, France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Mexico and a road trip through eight states. During that time, I was interviewing for dental school and ultimately decided to attend Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas -- close to my home and family. Now, I'm finishing my second year of dental school and I'll start seeing patients in the clinic this June!
GD: Following your collegiate soccer career, did you try to go play professionally at all?
SS: I didn't pursue a professional soccer career after college. Soccer brought me so many incredible experiences and friendships, but I knew I was ready to shift my focus toward achieving my next big goal of becoming a dentist.
GD: Looking back at your Duke soccer experience, what are some things that you look back on and cherish?
SS: Some of my favorite memories from my time at Duke revolve around the camaraderie of the team -- those little moments in the locker room, the pre-game rituals, the post-game celebrations and just being surrounded by a group of people who constantly pushed me to be my best. Competing at such a high level was an incredible opportunity, but what sticks with me most are the lifelong friendships and the sense of family that came with being part of the program. There is a network of support that is instilled in the Duke culture, and it extends far beyond the field, far beyond the four years spent on campus. Former DWS player Dr. Alison Cole has been an incredible mentor in my journey to and through dental school, which is just one of the many reminders of how lucky I am to have the Duke family in my corner.
GD: Are you able to keep in touch with many teammates/coaches?
SS: I've been fortunate to stay in touch with several former teammates and I always make an effort to support those playing professionally when they have games in the Dallas area. There's something special about watching them compete at the highest level -- seeing the same determination and skill we once shared on the field, now showcased on a bigger stage. Whether it's catching a game in person or following their careers from afar, I love celebrating their successes in whatever way I can. It's inspiring to see how far we've all come, each taking different paths but still connected by our shared experiences and love for the game.
Lately, some of the best reunions have been at weddings, where teammates, coaches and staff have come together to celebrate. These moments feel like a full-circle experience -- catching up not just on soccer but on life, careers and the journeys we've all taken since our playing days. No matter how much time passes, the bond we built keeps us connected and we pick up each time right where we left off.
GD: Have you been able to make it back to Duke very often?
SS: I was able to visit Duke and attend a game once during my gap year, but since starting school, I haven't had the chance to make it back. With most of my free weekends spent traveling to see my fiancé in New York, it's been hard to find the time. That said, I'd love to make another trip to campus soon -- hopefully in the near future!
GD: Are you able to be involved with soccer in any way these days or the last number of years?
SS: I love organizing sporting events for my dental class, so we often gather for small-sided soccer games. At the end of the year, we also have the annual Dental School Olympics, where the four Texas dental schools compete in various sports. This has been a fantastic way to share my passion for soccer -- and sports in general -- with new friends and colleagues in a more casual setting.
Beyond that, I've fully embraced my role as a soccer mom! I love watching the current DWS team, cheering for former teammates in the pro leagues, and coaching my five and three-year-old nephews. Soccer has always been a constant in my life, though I've been able to appreciate how its role may shift depending on the season of life I'm in.
GD: So, during your college days you were able to get your pilots license. Are you still flying any these days?
SS: Yes, I've actually been flying quite a bit lately. Since my school is only about an hour from where we keep the planes, it's a great activity for the weekends or days I finish early. My dad gifted my mom a Cessna 170 for Valentines day two years ago -- totally not a gift for him :) -- which is a very fun tailwheel airplane to fly. Tailwheel airplanes can be challenging because their center of gravity sits behind the main landing gear. This configuration demands constant, precise rudder control, as it makes them more prone to instability during takeoff, landing and ground handling. Mastering the art takes time, but that's exactly what makes them so rewarding to fly. I've been able to take several classmates flying and I love being able to share the experience. One of my favorite spots to fly is a grass strip on the lake near us, because we can tie down and have a bite to eat at the marina!
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
#GoDuke
GoDuke.com: Since graduating from Duke, what have you been up to?
Sydney Simmons: After graduating from Duke in May 2022, I took a gap year which gave me the incredible opportunity to travel while preparing for the next chapter of my career. My solo trips took me to Vietnam, Greece, France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Mexico and a road trip through eight states. During that time, I was interviewing for dental school and ultimately decided to attend Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas -- close to my home and family. Now, I'm finishing my second year of dental school and I'll start seeing patients in the clinic this June!
GD: Following your collegiate soccer career, did you try to go play professionally at all?
SS: I didn't pursue a professional soccer career after college. Soccer brought me so many incredible experiences and friendships, but I knew I was ready to shift my focus toward achieving my next big goal of becoming a dentist.
GD: Looking back at your Duke soccer experience, what are some things that you look back on and cherish?
SS: Some of my favorite memories from my time at Duke revolve around the camaraderie of the team -- those little moments in the locker room, the pre-game rituals, the post-game celebrations and just being surrounded by a group of people who constantly pushed me to be my best. Competing at such a high level was an incredible opportunity, but what sticks with me most are the lifelong friendships and the sense of family that came with being part of the program. There is a network of support that is instilled in the Duke culture, and it extends far beyond the field, far beyond the four years spent on campus. Former DWS player Dr. Alison Cole has been an incredible mentor in my journey to and through dental school, which is just one of the many reminders of how lucky I am to have the Duke family in my corner.
GD: Are you able to keep in touch with many teammates/coaches?
SS: I've been fortunate to stay in touch with several former teammates and I always make an effort to support those playing professionally when they have games in the Dallas area. There's something special about watching them compete at the highest level -- seeing the same determination and skill we once shared on the field, now showcased on a bigger stage. Whether it's catching a game in person or following their careers from afar, I love celebrating their successes in whatever way I can. It's inspiring to see how far we've all come, each taking different paths but still connected by our shared experiences and love for the game.
Lately, some of the best reunions have been at weddings, where teammates, coaches and staff have come together to celebrate. These moments feel like a full-circle experience -- catching up not just on soccer but on life, careers and the journeys we've all taken since our playing days. No matter how much time passes, the bond we built keeps us connected and we pick up each time right where we left off.
GD: Have you been able to make it back to Duke very often?
SS: I was able to visit Duke and attend a game once during my gap year, but since starting school, I haven't had the chance to make it back. With most of my free weekends spent traveling to see my fiancé in New York, it's been hard to find the time. That said, I'd love to make another trip to campus soon -- hopefully in the near future!
GD: Are you able to be involved with soccer in any way these days or the last number of years?
SS: I love organizing sporting events for my dental class, so we often gather for small-sided soccer games. At the end of the year, we also have the annual Dental School Olympics, where the four Texas dental schools compete in various sports. This has been a fantastic way to share my passion for soccer -- and sports in general -- with new friends and colleagues in a more casual setting.
Beyond that, I've fully embraced my role as a soccer mom! I love watching the current DWS team, cheering for former teammates in the pro leagues, and coaching my five and three-year-old nephews. Soccer has always been a constant in my life, though I've been able to appreciate how its role may shift depending on the season of life I'm in.
GD: So, during your college days you were able to get your pilots license. Are you still flying any these days?
SS: Yes, I've actually been flying quite a bit lately. Since my school is only about an hour from where we keep the planes, it's a great activity for the weekends or days I finish early. My dad gifted my mom a Cessna 170 for Valentines day two years ago -- totally not a gift for him :) -- which is a very fun tailwheel airplane to fly. Tailwheel airplanes can be challenging because their center of gravity sits behind the main landing gear. This configuration demands constant, precise rudder control, as it makes them more prone to instability during takeoff, landing and ground handling. Mastering the art takes time, but that's exactly what makes them so rewarding to fly. I've been able to take several classmates flying and I love being able to share the experience. One of my favorite spots to fly is a grass strip on the lake near us, because we can tie down and have a bite to eat at the marina!
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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