One week ago the Duke women's soccer team appeared to be left for dead. Its record just 6-8-1, the Blue Devils needed at least two wins and a tie in its final three contests to be eligible for NCAA postseason play. Twice Duke would have to succeed on the road against top-quality conference opponents, including an ominous trip to 17-time national champion North Carolina. Vultures were circling.
What a difference a week makes. Duke stomped High Point 6-0 early last week before pulling out a 0-0 tie against the No. 2 Tar Heels, setting up a must-win situation in Winston Salem, N.C.
Duke kept its ever growing NCAA tournament hopes alive against 16th-ranked Wake Forest Saturday night, as Casey McCluskey's dramatic overtime finish propelled her side to a 2-1 overtime victory.
"At this stage you just want to survive and advance," head coach Robbie Church said. "We've been climbing up this mountain for a long time, but we're not quite finished yet."
Duke (8-8-2, 2-4-1 in the ACC) will need to defeat Virginia Thursday to assure a .500 or better final record, but after three straight do-or-die contests, the Blue Devils are confident they can.
"We played UVa before and it definitely was not our best game of the season," McCluskey said. "They manhandled us. I think that's good and bad because I don't think they saw what we have, really. I think they saw a really poor Duke team."
Against the Demon Deacons (12-6-1, 2-4-1) Saturday, the Blue Devils looked like anything but the Duke squad that Virginia decimated 2-0. For the third consecutive contest the Blue Devils delivered a strong defensive performance, particularly in the opening half against a fired up Wake Forest squad eager to win on Seniors night.
Although Duke surrendered its goal in over 200 minutes of playing time, the Deacons could have easily tacked on more. All-ACC goaltender Thora Helgadottir made two crucial saves, once again demonstrating top form.
"The last couple of weeks she's put it in a different gear," Church said. "She's taken it to a higher level, and the confidence that she has spreads to the entire team."
Church also praised the team's senior leadership, which has been crucial to the Blue Devils' success in their recent time of crisis.
Defensive stalwart Rebecca Smith tried to explain the seniors' influence on the team.
"I try to think to look at each game as an individual game and not say if we win this game than x, y or z will happen," she said. "Really, all you can do is come out and try to lay it all down the line. I think, as a senior, you're playing a lot more passionately every game because you know that it could [end our postseason hopes]. "
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