On paper, the women's soccer team would appear to be one of the top teams in the nation. On the field, however, things just haven't been going the Blue Devils' way. Duke has outplayed its opponents but can't seem to get the goal when it counts.
"This is the most unlucky team I've ever been around in all my years as a player and as a coach," Duke coach Bill Hempen said.
This weekend the No. 15 Blue Devils have a chance to turn their luck around when they face Florida International on Friday at 5 p.m. Duke returns to the University of Greensboro Stadium to play Central Florida on Sunday at 3:30 pm.
Despite dominating No. 4 Portland last Saturday, the Blue Devils could only muster a tie, and they have since lost heartbreakers to Nebraska, UNC-Greensboro, and Wake Forest. Against the Demon Deacons on Wednesday night, Duke continually peppered Wake's goalie, but could not find the back of the net. The game was a 0-0 tie until the Demon Deacons scored a controversial goal with two seconds left.
"We've played well, it's just a matter of winning," junior Samantha Baggett said. "We've had as much a chance to win as the other team."
In addition to feeling the agony of defeat, the Blue Devils have had to watch the opposing teams celebrate wildly. But despite an uncharacteristic losing record of 3-4-1 (1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference), the Blue Devils remain optimistic about the remainder of the season. There are, after all, still 11 games left in the season.
"[The losing] is somewhat embarrassing," junior co-captain Lauren Cyran said. "Anyone who has seen us play knows there's no reason for us to feel embarrassed. I really think we're a good team. I really do."
Cyran believes that Duke remains a top caliber team because, even in its loses, it has played with intensity. Consequently, Hempen sees no reason to make any changes to his team. Even Hempen remains at a loss for words as to his team's problems.
"We outshot Wake Forest 14-2 in the second half," Hempen said. "What can we change?"
This year, the Blue Devils' leading scorers are, oddly, defenders. Sophomore midfielder Kristy Whelchel is the leading scorer with four goals, while Cyran, who is a sweeper, is second on the squad with two goals. In order to generate more goal scoring opportunities and hopefully more goals, Hempen has simply told his team to be a little more aggressive. He wants his team to take more shots when the opportunities present themselves.
"[Our scoring problem] is that we are not taking shots when we have the opportunities," junior Andi Melde said. "Even inside the penalty box we are passing the ball. Every single person on this team can shoot anywhere, and we just need to pull the trigger more."
To have more guns in scoring position, Hempen has asked Whelchel to focus more on offense. He has told the sophomore to act as a third forward when the team is on offense. The key for Duke this weekend is to score goals as Central Florida and FIU play a physical defensive game.
At the beginning of the season, the games this weekend would have appeared to be easy, non-conference wins sandwiched between some of the finest teams in the nation. Now, however, the games have a whole new importance. While the Blue Devils are not yet in danger of falling out of the NCAA tournament, they need these games more for their confidence than for the mere wins.
"I know we can beat any team in the nation," Melde said, "We're just having trouble showing it."
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