The field hockey team has reached the national championship game in each of the last two seasons. Unfortunately, Wake Forest defeated them both times.
Duke (4-0) will get another chance at its nemesis Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. The game is the first meeting between the two teams since the Demon Deacons defeated the Blue Devils, 3-0, in last year’s final.
“There’s definitely some revenge in there,” said defender Kirsten Bostrom. “Personally, as a senior, they ended our season the past two years so we want a little payback.”
Head coach Beth Bozman, however, believes the team has put the losses behind them, and that it must do so in order to be successful.
“You don’t win games because of ‘coulda shoulda,’” Bozman said. “You just win games because you do what you’re supposed to be doing on the field and I think that’s how we are approaching this game.”
This Wake Forest team is unlike the one the Blue Devils have played the past two years. Last year’s Demon Deacon team feautured two All-Americans, forward Kelly Dostal—who led the nation in scoring—and defender Claire Laubach. But the duo graduated, leaving Wake Forest much more vulnerable than before.
The Blue Devils view the Demon Deacons much differently than last year. With Wake Forest lacking their usual core of proven top-notch players, Duke’s game plan will feature a different look.
“Honestly we aren’t going to focus on any one player,” Bozman said. “It’s not like they have Dostal like last year. I think we’re going to really focus on our team, and executing and our game plan.”
The Blue Devils, unlike their rivals, return their top two scorers, forwards Katie Grant and Nicole Dudek. Grant currently leads the team with 14 points while Dudek is second with 11. Duke is also one of the most experienced teams in the country, returning eight starters from last season’s squad.
“You take everybody and they are just a little better,” Bozman said. “I think it’s just a matter of another year and a little more experience under our belts.”
Duke is rebounding from an early season injury to Christy Morgan, last year’s starting goalie. The senior returned to action Sept. 3 against Delaware after being sidelined with an injured back for much of the preseason. Morgan’s status for this weekend’s contest is uncertain.
The teams are meeting for the 58th time. Duke started off the series 31 years ago taking 24 of the first 25 games. Recently Wake Forest has dominated, winning 15 of the past 20, including nine of the last 10.
“Wake’s always just a big rival of ours,” said Bostrom. “We are definitely hungry and excited and hoping to get a lot of fans there and, yeah, we are pretty confident and going in for the win.”
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