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"We got to get a win. These are the games that we need to get a big win," Church said.
Friday's game was an instant classic, a match that not only continues to establish the ACC as the premier conference in women’s soccer, but perches Duke adjacent to its apex.
“I’m excited about [the upcoming schedule],” Church said. “Our players are excited about it. I think it gives them an opportunity to really put our stamp on the college soccer world.”
The Blue Devils are on the road again, and bringing their winning streak with them.
Duke’s match Thursday ended in a familiar setting: overtime.
Thursday's contest will be the team's first game away from Durham since its season-opener Sept. 10, and its first game outside of North Carolina all season.
Duke's talent level was clear from the start.
It is essential that the Blue Devils continue to build off the momentum of their previous win.
For the first time in over 278 minutes, dating back to Sept. 17 against Virginia, the Blue Devils found the back of the net.
“We talk about [North] Carolina being a bully in the neighborhood," Church said. "This is the bully’s cousin in Clemson."
“You could see the change. I don’t know if something kind of kicked in during the week, but you could see something really kicked in," Church said.
In the rivalry like no other, women’s soccer will be the first fall 2020 team to represent Duke blue.
When the buzzer sounded after 110 minutes of play, the Blue Devils were met with a familiar fate.
For the first time since March 11, a Duke team got to play on its home field.
Not only will the matchup be Duke's first official conference game, it will also be the team’s first major test of the season.
The Blue Devils' trip to Wake Forest Thursday marked Duke's return to the college sports scene, and the two teams made sure they didn't disappoint.
Overbeck has called Duke her home since 1992. During that time, she helped bring women’s soccer to the Olympics in 1996 and captained perhaps the most memorable World Cup team ever in 1999.
Jones has casually passed by hundreds of people on campus who have had no idea that they’d perhaps just seen one of American soccer’s next great talents.
It’s been six months since any Blue Devils have participated in official collegiate competition. But that prolonged drought will end Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Blue Devils are in the midst of an incredible run of success, and their talent this year is their best since their record 2017 campaign.