With the pressure building to bolster its resumé for an NCAA tournament at-large bid, Duke's offense exploded with three second half goals to upset then-No. 3 Florida State Oct. 22 at Koskinen Stadium.
Duke's three goals equalled the team's highest single-game scoring total of the year-and the team did it in only one period.
The Blue Devils (8-6-2, 4-3-1 in the ACC) look to repeat their performance on the road this weekend when they face Miami Friday and No. 20 Wake Forest Sunday.
Sunday's game in Winston-Salem provides an important matchup between two teams trying to build momentum for the postseason after recent struggles.
Before its game against the Seminoles, Duke was shut out by North Carolina and Maryland, Oct. 8 and Oct. 14, respectively, and lost 3-2 to Clemson Oct. 19.
Wake Forest (12-4-0, 5-3-0) dropped consecutive games against Clemson and Florida State before defeating Miami on the road Oct. 22.
"Any time Duke and Wake play each other it's a very emotional, hard fought game," head coach Robbie Church said.
This year, the rivalry will be intensified by both teams' desires to better position themselves for postseason play.
The Blue Devils' offense will be tested by the Demon Deacons' stifling back line and goalkeeper. The Wake Forest defense has yielded only eight goals all season.
"We'll probably attack them from the flanks and look to get wide on them and really run at them," Church said.
The Blue Devils' defense will also have their hands full in trying to contain the Demon Deacons' prolific scoring attack.
Wake Forest has the third-best offense in the ACC and features the conference's fourth-leading goal scorer, Elizabeth Remy, who has dominated play with eight goals and four assists.
"We've got to make sure we know where she is at all times on the field," Church said. "When she receives the ball, we have to be patient defensively and make her play the ball backwards or sideways."
Despite the numerous strengths of this Demon Deacon squad, history gives the edge to the Blue Devils.
Duke holds a 11-3-1 advantage in games played between the schools, including the last eight matches.
"We haven't given the NCAA our resumé yet," Church said. "So this is a great opportunity-because they are a nationally ranked team-to give [the NCAA] another quality win."
Before going to Winston-Salem, however, Duke must travel to Miami Friday to face the Hurricanes (8-8-1, 1-7-1). Playing Miami will be no easy task, even though the Hurricanes have the league's worst record, Church said.
Miami can play to the pace of the conference's powerhouses. The team defeated Virginia at home 1-0 earlier this month and took Wake Forest into double overtime before losing the game, 1-0, Oct. 22. The Hurricanes are also coming off a decisive 4-1 victory over North Florida Oct. 24.
"They are a hard team to break down-it's going to be a difficult game for us," Church said.
In addition to difficulties in matching up with Miami's players, Church said that Cobb Stadium's narrow field of tightly-cut grass lends to a faster-pace game, which will force his team to space itself well against the Hurricane defense.
With the season winding to a close, emotions are running high for the nine members of the senior class, but Church said the team remains focused.
"Emotion is definitely playing a role, and I do think it's a positive role," he said. "I think the girls have handled it really well."
The chance to play a fourth postseason together as a class is driving the seniors to a higher level of play.
"As a senior you have a sense of urgency-you want to make the tournament. We want to prolong our season," senior defender Rachel-Rose Cohen said. "We're all just playing for our teammates right now because we want to spend these next few weeks and few months with each other."
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