The cage. It's the place where goals are scored and victories won. This season, junior Dan Loftus has taken his place in net as Duke's new starting goalie-the team's last line of defense.
Assigned the task of replacing last year's USILA National Goalkeeper of the Year, Aaron Fenton, Loftus has shown no signs of being intimidated during Duke's first two games, and his teammates have welcomed the change.
"We're excited to be working with Dan this year," midfielder Nick O'Hara said. "A lot of people think we're going to be taking a step back losing a first team All-American in Fenton, but from the defensive end I don't feel like we're missing him at all. Yes, he was a great player but Dan is definitely filling his shoes."
Loftus will make his third start in goal this season at 3 p.m. Tuesday when the Blue Devils (2-0) meet Bellarmine (0-0) at Koskinen Stadium.
In Duke's first two games, against Butler and Villanova, Loftus has been able to match his predecessor's performance.
The Syosset, N.Y. native, who started three games as a freshman, made eight saves and allowed only one goal in 46:19 of work in the Blue Devils' 20-3 win over Butler. He was just as good against Villanova, again allowing just one goal and and notching 10 saves as Duke won 13-2.
"I feel good," Loftus said. "The defense is playing really well in front of me, so I mean, credit them more than me. The shots that I am seeing right now aren't too difficult."
Head coach Mike Pressler praised Loftus' play this season, but also acknowledged the difficulty of the team's upcoming games.
"In both games we weren't necessarily challenged but our guys were ready to play and finished strong," Pressler said. "We left the Butler game and the Villanova game encouraged but knowing that in these upcoming Saturdays the level of the opponents are going to be at our level to say the least."
Last year, Fenton finished with a .629 save percentage and helped the Blue Devils capture the NCAA record for the most wins in a single season. Loftus posted a .583 save percentage as Fenton's top backup.
Though Loftus has yet to face the caliber of competition this year that Fenton faced last season, Pressler said that the junior's early play has been promising.
"I've coached a long time and we've never had a goalie have a better senior season than Fenton," said Pressler, who has been the Blue Devil head coach for 16 years. "To be a first team All-American would be beyond all expectations, but Dan was better than solid in his first two games this season."
Tomorrow's opponent is not likely to be one of the tougher teams Loftus faces. The game will be Bellarmine's first matchup as a full Division I team-the Knights were a provisional Division I member last season.
"The level of preparation and execution at the Division I level is so good, it will be very different from last year," Bellarmine head coach Jack McGetrick said. "We played some very good Division II programs but you just can't compare that level to what we will be facing this season."
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