Duke Women's Soccer 2024

3-1
UVA with a header off a corner
Freeman was correct coming off her line to go after it with a punch..she took a poor line though

Needed to be front side
 
Solid win. UVA is a good team, and they didn’t play poorly. But we finished our chances and completed our crucial passes, while they did not. Happy to be on the right side of a game like that.
 
And all this without the injured trio of Kat Rader (last year's leading scorer), Elle Piper (starting defender) and Baleigh Bruster (starting defender). Coaches Church and Hall (next year's head coach) have done a masterful job creating depth through recruiting, the portal and player development. Also I think the reworked 3-4-3 formation has opened up the field and allowed for better scoring opportunities without sacrificing defense.
 
If you want to know the biggest reason for Duke’s defensive success, Groff and Chico are superior outside backs to Piper and Bruster. Physically stronger and faster ….better defensive decision makers. We were run over constantly last year on the flanks. We also effectively swapped Migli for Oliaro. There is no question Oliaro is the superior player.

Rader is certainly a loss but she is not a 1v1 Michelle Cooper type. A perfect complementary offensive threat with the killer speed that Hase and Walters bring. The dropoff to Lynch/Minestrella/Long is not that large.
 
TheTrain said:
If you want to know the biggest reason for Duke’s defensive success, Groff and Chico are superior outside backs to Piper and Bruster. Physically stronger and faster ….better defensive decision makers. We were run over constantly last year on the flanks.
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Yes, I know you discussed this many times last year. So its addition by subtraction. I hope their future playing time (Piper and Bruster) takes this into account.
 
Next year will be very interesting because roster caps are scheduled to take hold at 28 bodies
We arguably have the top recruiting class in the country coming in next year
Rader and Martinho should be back from injury
We lose 8 seniors and grad students: Freeman, Graham, Hase, Bebar, Chico, Groff, Wilson and Bruster
We have 7 commitments
Our defense will be gutted and we do not have a lot on the bench. We do have a highly regarded keeper in Dysert who is a freshman this year. Our top recruit, Alexis Coughlin, is a defender (ranked #9 overall), as is Jocelyn Travers (Ranked #15 overall) and Daya King (#19 overall). I still think we will hit the portal for a left winger, a CAM and 2 OBs and maybe a CDM. The Duke brand has never been stronger
 
Crazy note on the FSU game......they were outshot 18-8. That were flat out dominated despite having their 3 U20 USWNT playing (Dudley, Gilchrist and Riley), their star freshman playing (Washington) and their superstar transfer (Huff) all playing.
 
TheTrain said:
Crazy note on the FSU game......they were outshot 18-8. That were flat out dominated despite having their 3 U20 USWNT playing (Dudley, Gilchrist and Riley), their star freshman playing (Washington) and their superstar transfer (Huff) all playing.
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Don't forget Suarez too
 
#1 Arkansas was knocked off last night 1-0 by Mississippi State

If Duke wins tomorrow, they are likely to ascend to #1
 
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