Five months ago, Samantha Baggett followed her friend Danielle Garrett down the aisle as a bridesmaid. Sunday, however, it was Baggett leading the way as Duke knocked off Garrett and Florida 1-0 to close the regular season with a five-match unbeaten streak.
Garrett, now Danielle Fotopoulos, led the No. 8 Gators into Sunday's contest having scored 22 goals and 55 points this season, which placed her in the top 10 in the country. Florida brought with it an impressive 17-1 record and a 12-match winning streak.
Unfortunately for Florida, Duke was not impressed. The Blue Devils (9-8-3, 2-3-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) continued their inspired play of late by toppling the Gators just two days after knocking off No. 10 Virginia 3-0 in Charlottesville.
With Baggett blanketing Fotopoulos from the opening whistle, Duke took control of the match early. Fotopoulos was a non-factor, touching the ball just three or four times in the first half, as the Blue Devils went on the offensive. Freshman Emily Feeney entered the game in the 26th minute and scored the game's lone goal just three minutes later.
The Blue Devil forward intercepted a pass in the offensive zone, beat Florida defender Adrianne Moreira one-on-one, and fired a line-drive past a lunging Michelle Harris. It was Feeney's fourth goal of the season.
Meanwhile, Baggett was a force. The scrappy junior, playing in the Blue Devils' last home game of the season, kept Fotopoulos in check, denying the Gators' big gun a single shot in the first half. In fact, Florida seemed to have little hope of finding the net until Baggett went down with an ankle injury midway through the second period.
With Baggett gone, it appeared Fotopoulos might have an opportunity to step up pressure on Duke's goalkeeper Dana Piper. But sophomore Kristy Whelchel picked up right where Baggett left off, and after only a few minutes, the Blue Devil back line once again neutralized the athletic Fotopoulos.
"She's a big girl, so it's hard to keep her from the ball," Baggett said. "I just tried to keep her in front of me and not let her turn, because she can shoot pretty much from anywhere."
Sunday's win was especially gratifying for Baggett, who hails from Florida and has played with and against her good friend Fotopoulos since high school.
"I've been looking forward to this matchup for a long time," Baggett said. "I was sorry it was cut short [by the injury], but we got the win so I'm excited."
And perhaps no win this season was more important than this one for the Blue Devils, who still have a shot at an NCAA Tournament bid. What seemed impossible just two weeks ago now appears well within reach as the Blue Devils head to the ACC Tournament on Thursday. After wins against two top-10 schools, Duke is clearly a team on the rise, something the selection committee likely will not ignore.
"I think we need one more win [to ensure a bid]," Blue Devil coach Bill Hempen said after Sunday's win. "This last stretch against all ranked teams should bode well for our chances... and I think we have a legitimate argument to get in the tournament."
Friday's win over Virginia was unconventional by Duke standards. The Blue Devils-who have often struggled to find the net this season-managed three goals despite taking only six shots.
Freshman Sherrill Kester got Duke on the board just two and a half minutes into the match with her team-high eighth goal of the season. Freshman Kim Daws made it 2-0 when she squeezed the ball past Virginia's Liza Tatar for her first collegiate goal, and Feeney iced the game early in the second half on a header from four yards out.
Hempen pointed to both Daws and Feeney as keys to the weekend victories. The two freshmen have seen increased playing time of late, and their contributions have changed the chemistry of the Blue Devil lineup. Daws and senior Mandy Lehr controlled the Virginia game in the midfield, and Feeney scored in both games.
"Emily Feeney is really starting to play," Hempen said. "She's pushing a little harder, she's using her body a little bit better-she's becoming a pretty dangerous player out there."
Duke will have Feeney's contributions when the ACC tourney begins, but Baggett's status is uncertain. The Blue Devils also await news of their tournament seed, having finished in a four-way tie for second place in the conference.
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