For a team that is ranked in the top two in the country, Duke still feels as if it has a lot to prove.
The Blue Devils, despite a roster filled with 13 seniors, have an inward focus one would expect from a younger team.
When No. 2 Duke (2-0-0) takes the field at Koskinen Stadium in this weekend's Duke Classic, it faces two high-quality opponents in Villanova (1-1-0) and perennial powerhouse No. 12 St. Louis (0-0-1), but the team's concerns are not with its opponents, but rather with itself.
"We're still finding out about ourselves," head coach John Rennie said. "We're trying to adjust-still getting used to playing without Tim Jepson in the back.Hopefully we're ready for these kinds of teams, but we're still more concerned just about ourselves."
Even without Jepson, a senior defender sidelined with a hamstring injury, the Blue Devils have enough depth in their lineup-particularly on defense-to compensate.
Senior goalkeeper Justin Papadakis has yet to allow a goal this season, and the defense has allowed its opponents just 18 shots this season compared to Duke's 61.
Freshman standout Christian Ibeagha has done an impressive job so far in replacing the veteran stalwart Jepson. Ibeagha is the only player for the Blue Devils to have been on the field for every minute of regulation so far, and Rennie has described his play as outstanding. And as the freshman gets more playing time, his game will only improve.
"It was a challenge when I first came in," Ibeagha said. "But when I got in there, got into the game, I lost the nervousness a little bit and started playing better and better with each game that went by."
As for the competition, the Wildcats should be less of a threat to the Blue Devils, as they were unranked in all offensive and defensive categories last year. But the Billikens are a different story.
"They are a very, very good possession team and, apparently, a very aggressive team," Rennie said. "They're a very high quality team with excellent players. They're an NCAA tournament team every year."
The Billikens traditionally put a lot of offensive pressure on the teams they face. In their only game this season, an overtime draw against SMU, St. Louis out-shot the Mustangs 16-7. Yet, the Billikens' aggressiveness got carried away and arguably lost them the win, as they registered 30 fouls.
But Duke seems to be unphased by the competition. Whatever their strategy, the Blue Devils have proven that it works and are comfortable with where they are so far.
"We're progressing very well," Papadakis said. "It's still the beginning of the season with a couple new faces but overall I think the team is meshing on and off the field so I'm looking forward to this weekend."
In addition to Villanova, which plays Duke Friday at 7:30 p.m., and the Billikens, who face off against the Blue Devils Sunday at 7:20 p.m., N.C. State is in the field.
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