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DWS: Blue Devil Alumni Spotlight - Meaghan FitzGerald
7/2/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. -- Throughout the summer, GoDuke.com will continue to spotlight different Duke women's soccer alumni. Our next update is with Meaghan FitzGerald, a 2011 Blue Devil graduate. She appeared in 52 matches over four seasons while making 13 starts. FitzGerald, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, helped lead Duke to the NCAA Tournament in all four seasons, including quarterfinal appearances in 2007 and 2008.
GoDuke.com: Since graduating from Duke, what have you been up to?
Meaghan FitzGerald: It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since graduating. It feels like both a blip in time and an eternity. Since then, I've attended law school, gotten married to the most awesome guy, adopted a variety of exceptional animals, traveled, laughed (a lot) and generally tried to make the most of every opportunity in front of me. I recently moved to Columbus, Ohio, after a seven-year stint in San Francisco. In some ways, my adventure is only just beginning!
GD: By having a Duke degree, how much has that helped you since graduation?
MF: The most helpful part of my Duke degree was the intellectual rigor and curiosity underpinning it. The classroom and the field were both places I challenged myself to learn, grow and adapt. That mentality shapes the way I move through each day and helps me tackle new challenges with confidence and a positive outlook.
GD: Have you taken any lessons learned playing soccer at Duke into your profession after soccer?
MF: Best lesson: Everything is temporary. The highs, the lows, the excruciating Howser fitness sessions. Enjoy the highs; embrace the lows; and just remember that neither is a permanent state.
GD: What was one of the biggest challenges you faced moving from student-athlete to the professional world?
MF: Change is often hard and uncomfortable, and you have to remember to give yourself grace and space to fail (read: learn!). Learning how to transfer the skills I had acquired over decades in school and on the field to a workplace setting didn't happen overnight. But the through-line was there. I just had to be patient and invest the same time and effort into refining that new skill set.
GD: What advice would you give to any of the aspiring soccer players or current members of the Duke soccer team?
MF: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
GD: Looking back at your Duke soccer experience, what are some memories you cherish most?
MF: At the risk of sounding corny: I cherish everything. The long, hot preseason days, endless laughs, occasional tears, the extensive catalog of Robbie Church-isms, deep tournament runs, early loss heartbreaks, being coached by CARLA FREAKING OVERBECK (icon), East Campus Marketplace dinners, Domino's late night pizza and every friendship made along the way. My time at Duke rocked.
GD: Are you able to keep in touch with many teammates/coaches?
MF: Yes! While I'm grateful that social media didn't really explode until after I graduated (am I dating myself???), it's an invaluable source of connection with players and coaches alike as we're all increasingly distributed around the country and the world!
GD: Have you been able to make it back to Duke very often?
MF: Not as much as I'd like! Until last year, I was living in San Francisco, so the distance made regular trips more challenging. But I made the most of the ever-expanding ACC footprint and got to see the Duke team play on its West Coast tour in 2024 when the Blue Devils swept Stanford and Cal!
GD: Are you able to be involved with soccer in any way these days or over the last number of years?
MF: When I first graduated and was in law school, I played some intramural and pickup soccer. But as the years roll by, my body prefers slightly less demanding physical exertion. So, I've sidelined myself to spectator status. Last August, my husband and I traveled to London with Molly and Joe Germanese (fellow Blue Devil soccer players!) to see the Arsenal home opener! We attribute Arsenal's success in the Premier League this year to our attendance.
GD: Have you picked up any new hobbies/extracurriculars since graduating?
MF: If my social media comment above didn't already cement my membership in AARP, this will: my husband and I have been learning a lot about wine! We're trying to incorporate wine into our travels, too, so we get a taste (pun intended?) of local viticulture wherever we go.
GD: What goals or aspirations do you have for the future?
MF: Keep living life to the fullest and challenging myself to learn and grow - whatever form that may take and wherever that may lead!
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on X, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
#GoDuke
GoDuke.com: Since graduating from Duke, what have you been up to?
Meaghan FitzGerald: It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since graduating. It feels like both a blip in time and an eternity. Since then, I've attended law school, gotten married to the most awesome guy, adopted a variety of exceptional animals, traveled, laughed (a lot) and generally tried to make the most of every opportunity in front of me. I recently moved to Columbus, Ohio, after a seven-year stint in San Francisco. In some ways, my adventure is only just beginning!
GD: By having a Duke degree, how much has that helped you since graduation?
MF: The most helpful part of my Duke degree was the intellectual rigor and curiosity underpinning it. The classroom and the field were both places I challenged myself to learn, grow and adapt. That mentality shapes the way I move through each day and helps me tackle new challenges with confidence and a positive outlook.
GD: Have you taken any lessons learned playing soccer at Duke into your profession after soccer?
MF: Best lesson: Everything is temporary. The highs, the lows, the excruciating Howser fitness sessions. Enjoy the highs; embrace the lows; and just remember that neither is a permanent state.
GD: What was one of the biggest challenges you faced moving from student-athlete to the professional world?
MF: Change is often hard and uncomfortable, and you have to remember to give yourself grace and space to fail (read: learn!). Learning how to transfer the skills I had acquired over decades in school and on the field to a workplace setting didn't happen overnight. But the through-line was there. I just had to be patient and invest the same time and effort into refining that new skill set.
GD: What advice would you give to any of the aspiring soccer players or current members of the Duke soccer team?
MF: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
GD: Looking back at your Duke soccer experience, what are some memories you cherish most?
MF: At the risk of sounding corny: I cherish everything. The long, hot preseason days, endless laughs, occasional tears, the extensive catalog of Robbie Church-isms, deep tournament runs, early loss heartbreaks, being coached by CARLA FREAKING OVERBECK (icon), East Campus Marketplace dinners, Domino's late night pizza and every friendship made along the way. My time at Duke rocked.
GD: Are you able to keep in touch with many teammates/coaches?
MF: Yes! While I'm grateful that social media didn't really explode until after I graduated (am I dating myself???), it's an invaluable source of connection with players and coaches alike as we're all increasingly distributed around the country and the world!
GD: Have you been able to make it back to Duke very often?
MF: Not as much as I'd like! Until last year, I was living in San Francisco, so the distance made regular trips more challenging. But I made the most of the ever-expanding ACC footprint and got to see the Duke team play on its West Coast tour in 2024 when the Blue Devils swept Stanford and Cal!
GD: Are you able to be involved with soccer in any way these days or over the last number of years?
MF: When I first graduated and was in law school, I played some intramural and pickup soccer. But as the years roll by, my body prefers slightly less demanding physical exertion. So, I've sidelined myself to spectator status. Last August, my husband and I traveled to London with Molly and Joe Germanese (fellow Blue Devil soccer players!) to see the Arsenal home opener! We attribute Arsenal's success in the Premier League this year to our attendance.
GD: Have you picked up any new hobbies/extracurriculars since graduating?
MF: If my social media comment above didn't already cement my membership in AARP, this will: my husband and I have been learning a lot about wine! We're trying to incorporate wine into our travels, too, so we get a taste (pun intended?) of local viticulture wherever we go.
GD: What goals or aspirations do you have for the future?
MF: Keep living life to the fullest and challenging myself to learn and grow - whatever form that may take and wherever that may lead!
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on X, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
#GoDuke
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