After the game, it's easy to tell which players are freshmen. They're the ones on the sidelines after every other Blue Devil has left, still busy collecting the pinnies, the soccer balls, the cones-the dirty work.
But when the game is on, those class distinctions are washed away. The guys who collect the pinnies are the same ones who suit up for the game, pushing their teammates from the sideline and challenging opponents in the box.
It's normal for many freshman athletes to be allotted a substantial period of time to prepare for the new challenges of the game while adjusting to college life.
It's also normal for other new players to come in with a cocky swagger because of heavily lauded high school careers, thinking that they are ready to play and take on any teammate for a starting position.
But Duke's Doug Ferner and Christian Ibeagha, both defenders in this year's top-ranked recruiting class, have proven so far that their abilities and attitudes are anything but normal.
"[They] came in wanting to be better, realizing that they weren't going to walk in and own the world and that they had to work and fight, and that we have a good group who's here already," assistant coach Mike Jeffries said. "And they've both done a good job of learning from the older guys and putting themselves into training very hard."
Since the injury to senior defender Tim Jepson in an exhibition game against Connecticut Aug. 25, Ferner and Ibeagha have been called upon to replace the team captain and perform more like veterans than newcomers on a championship-level team-and both have risen to the occasion.
"Coming in so early, they've showed a lot of confidence, a lot of poise back there," Jepson said. "They've done a tremendous job jumping in and coming into big games when we've needed them. I think they've showed a lot of maturity-it's not easy coming in as a freshman and starting right off the bat."
The adjustment to Duke soccer hasn't been easy for either of them. Ferner, who was ranked the best defensive recruit in the nation for 2007 by Rise Magazine, has had to fill a lesser role than he did before college.
"I'm happy that we can come in, get some playing time, help out, fill in for guys who are hurt," he said. "All the seniors keep telling me to keep my head on my shoulders, to keep focused. Obviously I'm not playing [as much as] I'm used to... but 'patience will pay off', that's what [the seniors] always say."
Ibeagha, however, has not been forced to wait to get his chance. The standout has played 346 of 360 possible minutes of regulation and has started each of the Blue Devils' four regular-season games.
"High school soccer is a lot slower than this, so coming up to a higher level, it comes down to every single play, you can't take breaks on any play-if you take a break on any play you'll get penalized at this level," he said.
Despite the pressure of being a freshman on one of the nation's top teams, Ibeagha said he has been encouraged by his teammates, who remind him that the game should be fun at any level.
When Jepson fully heals from his hamstring injury, the team leader will most likely reclaim his place as a starter in the back four, forcing the freshmen back to the bench. But that reality has not yet seemed to bother either Ferner or Ibeagha, who are learning to play the game with humility and for enjoyment.
"The whole time I've been out here I've been having fun," Ibeagha said. "I mean, we all have a role-everyone has a role. I picked up my role and just have fun with it.
Whether that role has been playing team maid or playing steel-curtain defense, Ferner and Ibeagha have showed they can be counted on.
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