CHAPEL HILL - Three starters are out for the season with knee injuries, seven freshmen are playing, and there's a battle over the goalkeeper position. Things couldn't be better for the women's soccer team.
Friday, Duke rode Sherrill Kester's fifth goal of the season and another strong tag-team performance from Dana Piper and Isis Dallis in goal to a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin (1-2-1) in the Carolina Classic at Chapel Hill.
Even without starters Liz Speights, Kari Juncker and Kim Daws-all lost to torn knee ligaments-the Blue Devils have not allowed a goal yet this season, and, at 5-0, they are off to their best start in school history.
"[Our players] know the situation," coach Bill Hempen said. "They don't see themselves as a top-five or six team. They see themselves as a team that has to survive from game to game."
Duke is doing more than just surviving. With senior Amanda Remy taking over for Speights on defense, the Blue Devils back line has been nothing short of dominant. Wisconsin managed just seven shots on goal Friday, and neither Duke keeper was seriously challenged.
Meanwhile, the Blue Devil offense sputtered for the first time this year, despite an obvious possession advantage and 18 shots on goal. Badgers' keeper Briget Schwarting made 11 saves, including two on breakaways by Emily Feeney. Feeney, Duke's leading scorer with seven goals, was held scoreless for the first time this season.
"It seemed like every chance we got, she would get a hand on it," Kester said. "We just had a hard time getting it in the back of the net. We had plenty of shots."
Duke finally got on the board midway through the second half, when senior Samantha Baggett set up Kester's goal with a through ball that split two defenders.
Kester collected the pass at the top of the penalty area, beat one defender and dribbled left to fake out a lunging Schwarting. She rolled it easily into the net for her 13th career goal.
"We talked about [offense] at halftime," Kester said. "They were playing a flat back line. We just [wanted to] slide it through and let someone run on to it, pretty much with a breakaway. And we only did it once the whole game."
Duke continued to pressure offensively, but could not add a second goal. Wisconsin never had a legitimate scoring opportunity, and Duke's two-headed goalkeeping monster posted a school record-tying fifth-straight shutout.
Piper, who started all 22 games last year as a sophomore, got the nod once again on Friday. But as he has done so far this season, Hempen brought the freshman Dallis on after halftime. Both keepers played well, and Hempen indicated that there was no reason to change his strategy yet.
"Each keeper's had a chance right now," he said. "And neither one of them has done a thing to make me want to take her out and play the other one. Training has been great, maybe the best training environment we've ever had."
Dallis is not the only freshman making an early impact. Forward Kasey Truman has started all five games, and has already picked up a goal and an assist. Five other freshmen saw action against Wisconsin. Midfielder Snow Brenner from High Point played extensively in the midfield, where the absence of Juncker and Daws has opened up a lot of minutes.
"We just have to adjust, and everyone's going to have to be in shape to play 90 minutes," Kester said. "Last year we were a deeper team."
The best start in school history will be put to the test next weekend. The Blue Devils travel to Notre Dame for the adidas/Lady Foot Locker Classic, where they will face two of the top three teams in the nation. They battle No. 3 Portland Friday, before a Sunday matchup with the No. 2 Fighting Irish.
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