To betting people, Duke goes into Friday's national men's soccer semifinal against Virginia as the underdog. But the Blue Devils do not mind. Freshman midfielder Jay Heaps said the label has not shaken his team's confidence.
"Everyone looks at us as the underdog--that's a luxury for us because there's less pressure," Heaps said. "But we're definitely capable of beating them. If any team can beat them, we're that team."
The Cavaliers should think that Heaps will be a big part of that effort. The Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and first-team All-ACC selection scored three goals in two games this season against Virginia, which is seeking its fifth consecutive national title.
Another player the Cavs should look out for is Duke's other All-ACC first-team selection, Brian Kelly. Virginia coach Bruce Arena thinks Kelly is the Blue Devils' best player. The junior midfielder has had at least one goal in every NCAA tournament game so far. His four goals in the tournament brings his postseason total to six.
When it came to assessing Duke's chances, Kelly agreed with his teammate.
"I don't think Virginia considers us an underdog," Kelly said. "All our games this season have been very competitive matches."
Kelly described the team's approach to the game as "loose but focused." It is the Blue Devils' third meeting with the Cavaliers this season. The first ended in a 3-3 tie thanks to two last-minute goals from Heaps. Duke lost the rematch, in the ACC tournament semifinal, 4-1. After playing Virginia twice, head coach John Rennie is ready for a win. More importantly, he knows what his team needs to do to get it. One is finishing its scoring opportunities.
"In the first half of [the regular-season game], we had five legitimate chances which should have been goals," Rennie said. "We went 0-for-5--that's not enough to beat Virginia."
According to Rennie, fatigue also played a part in the loss to the Cavs.
"In the ACC semifinal, we had just played a day earlier and they hadn't," Rennie said. "We should've also substituted a little better in the first game. We're going to try to get fresh legs out there Friday... to press a team like Virginia requires a lot of energy."
Another question the coach must answer is when to send Josh Henderson into the game. The freshman, who garnered All-ACC second-team honors despite spending a third of the season out with injury, is still hobbling on a deep ankle bruise.
For last Saturday's quarterfinal against James Madison, Henderson's status was upgraded from "playing in emergency situations" to "playing for most of a half." The freshman started the second half and left midway through the period, but not before setting up Kelly's equalizer and causing all sorts of confusion in the JMU defense.
"He had gotten kicked a little bit and his ankle was just tired," Rennie said. "We were going to put him back in after five or 10 minutes but we didn't need to. What he really needs is a month off."
Unfortunately, the Blue Devils need him now. Although the forward is playing on one leg, he still dazzles with uncanny and clinical passes in the offensive third of the field. The respect opposing defenses give him also opens up space for teammates like Kelly, Heaps and sophomore Andy Kwon. Henderson is once again not likely to start against the Cavaliers, but Duke remains assured without him.
"This team has obviously learned how to cope without a key player," Kelly said. "It has built character... the players in there are the ones who have to step up."
Arena is cautious about underestimating the Blue Devils without Henderson up front.
"Duke won't be handicapped without him," Arena said. "They've won three NCAA playoff games, haven't they? Duke is a good team without him and a better team with him."
The Blue Devils are also hoping that speedy right midfielder Kevin Stein recovers sufficiently from his sprained ankle to start. Michael Dunne, who is Duke's best ball-winner in midfield, has been playing on the wing in his place. Stein's availability would enable Dunne to return to the middle where he is most effective.
The player who would normally replace Stein in midfield is Sam Smith. But Smith has been filling in for Adam Mastrelli at left-back. Mastrelli pulled a hamstring in the 3-1 ACC tournament win against Wake Forest and is still struggling. Smith's solid performances in defense earned him the starting job for the rest of the season.
"Our defense has been the last part of the equation all year," Rennie said. "Sammy stepped in and completed the puzzle."
The Blue Devils' backline has come on strong in recent weeks. Center-back Craig Jeidy's early-season mistakes have disappeared, and All-ACC second teamer Evan Whitfield is poised to become one of Duke's best ever.
Whitfield is one of the Blue Devils' most gifted defenders and one of their best tacklers, but he is also one of the most brash. The freshman was forced to sit for one game earlier this season after collecting five yellow cards and is one booking away from another suspension. A card on Friday would put him out of the final game if Duke wins. Nevertheless, the right-back is not likely to hesitate with his challenges.
"Right before the game I think about it," Whitfield said. "But once the game starts it doesn't enter my mind."
JMU gave the Blue Devils' defense fits with its aerial superiority, but the Cavs are not expected to go that route.
"Virginia is not as dominant in the air [as James Madison]," Kelly said. "We've been able to match them there."
Virginia prefers a rhythm-building style which stresses possession. Duke will be trying to disrupt that rhythm. The Blue Devils' attacking mentality is more impatient.
"We're going to try to take away what they do well, and they're going to try to take away what we do well," Rennie said. "It's going to be a war out there physically. Our players will be well prepared for that."
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