Whoever said that there is strength in numbers had better take a look at the women's soccer team.
On Saturday night, an injury-depleted Duke squad fought its way to a 3-0 victory over No. 8 Clemson. But the 12th-ranked Blue Devils (4-0) had no time to recuperate, overcoming UNC-Charlotte only 24 hours later.
"The kids responded well," Duke coach Bill Hempen said. "Towards the end of Saturday's game, they were physically and mentally drained, but they came through. That's the kind of effort it's going to take to do well the rest of the year."
The battle with Clemson (3-1) was not only the Blue Devils' first matchup with a top-10 opponent this season, it was also their first Atlantic Coast Conference matchup of the year. Thus, the win gave them an edge heading into the bulk of the perennially demanding ACC slate.
Sophomore midfielder Sherrill Kester kicked off the scoring for Duke 22:38 into Saturday's game, launching a pass from freshman forward Kasey Truman over the head of Tiger netminder Meredith McCullen and into the left side of the net. Less than four minutes before the end of the first stanza, senior Andi Melde's crossing pass to junior midfielder Kristy Whelchel enabled Whelchel to drive the ball home.
Hempen was especially pleased with the play of Whelchel, whom he lauds as perhaps his most consistent players, and Melde, who played at defense, in the midfield and on attack Saturday night.
"Andi was the most dominant player on the field on Saturday," Hempen said. "She was all over the field, she played selflessly and she deserves every bit of credit."
The Blue Devils put the game out of reach late in the second half. At the 87:41 mark, sophomore forward Emily Feeney received a feed from sophomore forward Kim Cahill and found the back of the net.
Nevertheless, it was Duke's defense that made the wins possible. In four games, the Blue Devils have not allowed a single goal. But what makes that feat most remarkable is that they have not yet fully solidified their defensive line. The questions begin in goal, where junior Dana Piper and freshman Isis Dallis have split almost equal time.
Injuries have forced Duke to shuffle and reshuffle its lineup in the midfield and on defense, putting some new faces on the field and increasing the playing time of rookies and veterans alike. This weekend, freshman midfielder Sue Kraeger got her first start of the year, and freshman defender Snow Brenner logged increased minutes. In addition, senior Amanda Remy, who played a reserve role in previous years, has moved into the starting lineup this year, and according to Hempen, has excelled on defense.
But despite all the uncertainties, every combination the Blue Devils put on the field has successfully stymied its opponents.
"We defended well," Hempen said. "We worked on nothing but defense all week long, and that really showed."
After defeating Clemson, the exhausted Blue Devils traveled to Charlotte, where they trounced UNC-Charlotte, 3-0 on Sunday night. Truman redirected Melde's corner kick to light up the scoreboard at the 10:10 mark. In the last minute of the half, Cahill slid a pass to Feeney, who continued her offensive tear, tallying her seventh goal of the season. Duke notched its final goal of the evening off Melde's pass to Kester, who scored on the breakaway.
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