The independent news organization of Duke University
Duke’s season was little short of landmark, a premier season for one of the country’s premier programs.
It took 11 months from the first pick to the last, but now all three of Duke’s super-senior captains are going pro.
The super senior is the first Blue Devil to be drafted in the first round since 2018, and the highest-drafted Duke defender in NWSL history.
It’d been a few years since the Blue Devils had a first-team All-American. For one last mark in her historic season, striker Michelle Cooper changed that.
Two years ago, at Koskinen Stadium, the beleaguered Blue Devils had a signature win against then-No. 19 Santa Clara. Friday night, the Broncos finally got their revenge.
"I don't think other teams have ever experienced an attacking player like this.”
It’s been a relatively quiet last few games for Cooper, with her last goal coming in Duke’s regular-season finale against Louisville. But against the Red Storm, it was all gas, no brakes from the ACC Freshman of the Year.
The blueprint to flustering Duke has been out for a month: Be physical. Dare the Blue Devils to go through you. Close up space—and if they still get by you, make them feel it. Friday night, Duke tore that blueprint to shreds.
The Blue Devils struck early in this one, waiting until merely the waning minutes of the first half to notch their first score and No. 1 Duke made its way past Memphis 1-0 at Koskinen Stadium Friday night in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
It took until the last minute for Duke to break through, but when your opponent isn’t scoring, you only need a single goal to win.
The NCAA tournament selection committee revealed the 2021 bracket on Monday, with Duke receiving a 1-seed.
The ACC announced its All-ACC teams Friday afternoon and, to little surprise to anyone, Duke freshman phenom Michelle Cooper led the way.
A lot can change in 13 seconds.
Even before the start of kickoff, the environment was muted—it was a dreary, rainy afternoon with more clouds in the sky than fans in the stands. And while the Blue Devils’ performance mirrored that environment, the talent gap was too much for the Cardinals to overcome, and Duke came out on top with a 1-0 victory Thursday at Lynn Stadium.
With a stunning amount of awareness for anyone, but especially a freshman, Michelle Cooper let the ball roll right past her, where it found a wide-open Tess Boade at the top of the box, who sent a rocket toward the center of the goal.
No. 6 Duke overcame the stylistic choices of the umpires to notch a crucial 1-0 win over No. 15 Notre Dame on Thursday, effectively clinching an ACC tournament berth.
It all comes down to this. After 13 games of mostly elite soccer, the Blue Devils’ tournament prospects come down to just a pair of games.
Last Sunday, In the span of six hours of real time and almost eight of game time, Duke’s hopes went from dour to dire to blight, then rinsed and repeated. Friday, Duke’s visit to Winston-Salem, N.C. was little more than a tune-up.
This one marked Duke’s first victory away from home since their historic win against North Carolina and gave them the three points in the conference standings necessary to get them into the rapidly upcoming ACC Tournament.
It was definitely a game to remember for head coach Robbie Church who registered his 100th ACC win as the Duke women's soccer head coach.
