Panasci prepares for end of Duke career

For the last few years, the field hockey team has faced a similar question as each season begins: How do the Blue Devils plan to make their offense more multi-dimensional?

Next year, there won't be such a question because the singular dimension will no longer be around.

And that means losing a player who has scored or assisted on 47% of the Blue Devils' goals over the last four years, a player who has destroyed the all-time Atlantic Coast Conference record for both goals and overall points in a career and completely taken over all of Duke's single season and career scoring marks.

Melissa Panasci is a one-of-a-kind player, the type Duke may not have again for a long time.

"She's a very talented player," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "Over the last few years, we've always felt that as Melissa goes, so goes the Duke team. We're always fearful of her, especially of her dominant shot."

And it's a shot that has found the back of the cage 89 times over the past four years, shattering the previous ACC record of 70 goals. The total is all the more remarkable considering the fact Panasci has faced double and triple-teams since her freshman season.

Though Duke is near the top-20 on a consistent basis, put a player of Panasci's caliber in a Virginia or Old Dominion uniform, where she's not given special attention by opposing defenses, and her goal mark could be even higher.

"That would be a lot easier," Panasci said. "It's been frustrating being triple-teamed a lot. But I've been relying a lot more on my teammates, which has made us a better team.

Statistics aside, Panasci's mental strength has carried her when the physical injury has held her back. A toughness most players don't have has helped Panasci and served as an example for her teammates. Especially over the last few years, Panasci has led the Blue Devils in ways that goals can't measure.

"She doesn't realize at times what an impact she has on the group," Duke coach Liz Tchou said. "I try and tell her what a difference she makes and what a leader she is for the team."

And it's a team that has suffered through many close calls during Panasci's four seasons. Time after time, the Blue Devils have lost to the Old Dominions and UNCs by just a goal or two.

Last season was the only time Duke qualified for the NCAAs, and the opportunity this year appears dim.

"It's sad that we came up short so many times," Panasci said. "I would've loved to have gone to the tournament every year and to have done well in the tournament. I would've loved to beat UNC. But at the same time, I know we put everything we had into every game we played. There's no regret."

Panasci's greatest regret was never beating the Tar Heels. Duke hasn't topped UNC in 16 years, and Panasci was hoping that she'd be on the Blue Devil team that finally broke through. Unless the teams meet in the finals of this weekend's tournament, the goal will never be attained.

But when it comes to her own career, there can be no regrets for Panasci. And there's also no doubt that it's far more than she ever expected.

"I came to Duke not as exposed to field hockey as everyone else has been," Panasci said. "I wasn't involved in a lot of the outside things like Futures. I just came to Duke just wanting to play the sport that I loved. Hoping that I'd have a good four years but not realizing that I would have any success with those four years."

She recorded 15 goals her freshman year but splashed onto the scene the following year when she scored 32 goals, setting both team and ACC records for a season. After adding another 22 goals in '96, Panasci became the all-time ACC recordholder for both goals and points earlier this year.

"I'm really proud of [the records]," Panasci said. "I've worked hard for it. It's something that I can just look back on and be proud of, knowing I was the highest scorer in the ACC. It's nice to know that you've achieved something that high."

Despite the tremendous success, Panasci will conclude her field hockey career for good this year. She has no intentions of looking to play on the national team. Instead, she'll be returning home to New York to follow in a long family line of teachers.

The Miller Park, N.Y. native has student-taught this semester and intends to teach either kindergarten, first or second grade starting next year.

"I'm happy with my career here, and I'm happy with all of the accomplishments that I've had," Panasci said. "But I love teaching-it feels so comfortable for me, and I want to start that right away.

"This is going to be an emotional weekend because it'll be my last time I play with my fellow seniors that I've been playing with for four years every single day. That'll be really rough, to know it's over. I don't think I even realize how much I'm going to miss it until it's over. It's going to hit me a lot harder afterwards."

And the loss is going to hit Duke a lot harder next year as well. There's no doubt that the Blue Devils' offense has centered around Panasci the last four years.

"There are so many things I think of when I think of Melissa," said Jacki Silar, Duke's coach during Panasci's first two seasons. "Her strengths are not just physically but really mentally too. As a freshman and a sophomore, teams really double-teamed her and it was a challenge for her to score against the really strong teams; but she did. She's a very strong woman in a lot of ways."

And there's no doubt a player who expected less coming in has done so much more. Jersey's aren't retired in field hockey and there's no Hall of Fame. Regardless, Panasci's accomplishments and her No. 29 will be irreplaceable for years.

"I think Melissa's been pretty incredible," Tchou said. "She's a natural at the game. She's one of a kind."