The challenge facing coach Liz Tchou and the field hockey team is no different than the task many teams have faced before. But that doesn't make it any easier.
Coming off an unexpected 12-10 season a year ago, Duke enters 1997 no longer a surprise story. Teams will be ready this year. The Blue Devils' berth in last seasons' NCAAs moved them into the upper echelon of Division I and onto the list of teams that cannot be overlooked. On top of that, Tchou, named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year in her first season, must avoid sophomore-itis and solidify a young defense.
And yet, despite the seemingly high amount of pressure, Duke looks ahead to this year with as much, if not more, enthusiasm and excitement as it did in Tchou's inaugural season.
"Last year our goal wasn't to make the NCAA tournament," Tchou said. "It was to go as far as we could with our energy, and we surprised a lot of people. This year the challenge is we're not going to surprise anyone, because they know we're good. Each year is so different, but I know our team is going to be a lot better."
The Blue Devils have a number of reasons why they expect to improve on last year's second-ever NCAA berth. Primarily, Tchou spent much of 1996 laying a foundation. Now that the foundation is down, Duke has used much of its preparation in the preseason focusing on the little things necessary to continue its ascent towards the top.
"Last year we had to do a lot more skill work," Tchou said. "This year we're better and we can work more on the little things. Now we've got that skill so we have to be nitpicky and very detail-oriented."
The coaching staff is stressing such aspects as stick handling, passing accuracy and technique. On offense, the strategy is sound. Duke boasts a veteran frontline led by seniors Melissa Panasci and Mandy Schott and junior Emily Ford.
As was the case last year and the two years before, Panasci is the Blue Devils' unquestionable leader on offense. In Saturday's season-opening 6-4 loss to James Madison, Panasci scored three times to break the all-time ACC scoring record with 72 career goals.
But just as in seasons past, Duke must diversify it's offensive arsenal in order to create more options and prevent teams from triple-teaming Panasci. The Blue Devils feel that this year more than others, they have experienced forwards who can open up the attack.
"We have three returning starters on the front line, and I think we all have a lot of confidence in each other," Panasci said. "I'm a goal-scorer and I play to my strength, but I think we're all going to be contributing this year."
Duke's stability on offense is balanced by its youth and inexperience on defense. Two freshmen, Maureen Denney and Courtney Sommer, will receive a significant amount of playing time on a unit anchored by junior Trina Santomauro, the Blue Devils' only returning starter in the backfield.
In the net, Duke expected to be strong with '96 ACC Rookie of the Year Brooke Fuller and redshirt sophomore Sarah Doherty sharing the duties. But Fuller did not return to the University this year, leaving Doherty to defend the goal alone.
Doherty has missed the past year rehabbing her knee, and Saturday's contest at JMU was her first game action since early last season. She faces the challenge of not pushing her knee to excess, while defending the goal with recently-added sophomore Maureen Stahl as her only backup.
"It's exciting, and it's frustrating," Doherty said. "I came not knowing if I would start, and now it's my job. I just have to be careful in practice not to push too hard.
"I think [our defense] works together very well. All of us are inexperienced game-wise so we can all progress with each other as the season goes along."
But Duke's progress will have to start quickly, as the Blue Devils face an extremely difficult schedule. Both within the ACC and outside, Duke has few easy games.
ACC powers UNC, Virginia and Maryland always hover near the top, and Wake Forest, usually a conference punching bag, expects to be strong as well.
"The ACC teams are going to be unbelievably strong this year," Tchou said. "Every team's going to be tough. There are no easy games this year. But we're going to be pretty good too. I think we're better-equipped to handle teams this year than we were last year."
Indeed, the Blue Devils will look to build upon last year's success with the same one-game-at-a-time, positive approach. Tchou is looking to avoid second-year struggles by diverting pressure away for her team and allowing her players to continue steadily improving on the field.
But Duke fully realizes that this is not last year. Expectations are higher, as is the Blue Devils' quality of play.
"It's definitely different this year," Panasci said. "Our mental preparation is different. Everybody knows about us now so we feel we have to prove ourselves this year.
"But I think this is definitely the strongest Duke team ever."
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