They say the devil is in the details. But in Durham, the Blue Devils are in the details — and numbers:
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Koskinen Stadium should officially be renamed Rader Stadium. In the 14th minute of play against No. 10 Notre Dame Thursday night, sophomore forward Kat Rader slipped yet another ball into the back of the net to put Duke women’s soccer ahead 1-0. With five goals, one in each of the team’s five home games, Rader has proven to be nothing short of a goal-scoring machine. Match after match, her exceptional footwork, high soccer IQ and powerful shots become a formidable challenge for any team that steps onto the pitch in Durham. Her talent has been rewarded as the Blue Devils currently boast an overall winning record of 5-3 and a 3-2 record at home. Rader’s goals have kept Duke on the score sheet in all of their home matches, not allowing then-No. 24 Southern California or the Fighting Irish to travel home with a shutout.
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No. 8 Pittsburgh swept the Blue Devils’ volleyball squad 0-3 in the ACC opener Friday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This loss put an end to Duke’s nine-game win streak, leaving the Blue Devil’s with their first defeat of the season on their home court. The Panthers, led by freshmen Torrey Stafford and Olivia Babcock, outhit Duke with an impressive .258 hitting percentage compared to the Blue Devils’ .190. On the other side of the net, Duke fought hard but ultimately failed to keep a third loss off its record. Outside hitters Gracie Johnson and Kerry Keefe launched the offensive effort, tallying 13 and 11 kills respectively, while junior Rachel Richardson fended off Pittsburgh's attacks with five blocks.
The Blue Devils quickly bounced back in their second ACC match against Virginia Sunday, dominating the Cavaliers 3-0. They look to carry this momentum into their Friday night game at Miami.
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In the world of collegiate field hockey, No. 5 Duke has emerged as a dominant force. The Blue Devils are currently riding a six-game win streak, putting on both an offensive and defensive clinic by scoring 21 goals and only conceding four. Sophomore forward Alaina McVeigh leads the team in goals with 10 on the season and seven in the past six games. Duke continues to rise in the rankings from their preseason spot at No. 20, currently sitting behind ACC powerhouses in No. 2 North Carolina and No. 4 Louisville.
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Duke men's golf has kicked off its season in an impressive fashion, securing two consecutive top-five finishes. The Blue Devils placed fourth of 15 at Hylands Invitational Monday and Tuesday, shooting 13-under with 170 total pars. The team was led by senior Jimmy Zheng, who tied for 12th. Duke also placed fifth of 12 at Sahalee Players Championship Sept. 9 and 10, led by junior Luke Sample, who tied for seventh overall. The Blue Devils will look to break the top three this week at the annual Rod Myers Invitational at Duke University Golf Club.
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