Overview
Prior to last season, Duke had made an NCAA tournament appearance every year since 2015. But even though the team boasted a list of all-star talent led by then-sophomore Kat Rader, the scoring hole left by Michelle Cooper proved to be too much for the 2023 Blue Devils to overcome. Duke missed out on the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight years, only scoring 15 goals compared to 46 the year before.
This upcoming season is head coach Robbie Church’s last with the Blue Devils, so the pressure is on for Duke to return to the tournament as a positive send-off to the winningest coach in Blue Devil history.
The core of Duke’s 2023 roster remains, with preseason All-ACC pick Rader and captains Nicky Chico, Maggie Graham and Katie Groff all returning to Durham. The newcomers, including TopDrawerSoccer preseason freshman All-American selection Mary Long and transfer talent Ella Hase and Hannah Bebar, looked poised to jump in and immediately make an impact for the Blue Devils.
“I thought that we had some of our best trainings in preseason that I can remember in my 24 years here,” Church told The Chronicle. “Lot of energy from our team, from the top of the roster to the bottom of the roster, people are bringing energy and focus.”
That renewed focus is readily apparent in this year’s team, showcased in its 9-0 preseason win against Furman Aug. 5.
“We played like we trained,” Church said of his team’s victory. “And you know, you don't always do that.”
Duke will need to continue playing like it trains to succeed this year. Opening up the season with two tough non-conference road games against Ohio State and Nebraska will allow the Blue Devils to test out the waters and find cohesion as a squad before jumping into what Church calls the “toughest women’s soccer conference in the country.”
That conference is headlined by the usual ACC powerhouses — Florida State, Clemson, Virginia and North Carolina. ACC newcomer and preseason No. 2 Stanford adds depth to the league; every conference game this season will be a dogfight. Any team looking to claim a conference championship, much less a ticket to the NCAA tournament, will face a tough gauntlet.
Despite the disappointment of last season, the 2024 squad has the seasoned veteran talent, hardworking dedication and incoming energy to make a serious run in the NCAA tournament and end its beloved coach’s career in style.
“We just got this desire, we've got this passion,” Church said. “We've got this mentality that we're playing with. It’s great.”
-Elle Chavis
New player to watch: Mary Long
Midfielder/Forward Mary Long arrived in Durham this summer as a standout rookie with the potential to seriously contribute to Duke’s scoring, an area where it struggled in the 2023 season. The Mission Hills, Kan., native has been a prolific goal scorer during her high school career, notably in high-stakes tournaments and matches. In the 2023 ECNL playoffs, she led her team with six goals and three assists, playing a pivotal role in their run to the National Final; she recorded 19 goals in the 2021-22 ECNL regular season. Her talent extended to the international stage this summer, where she scored twice against Brazil at the USWNT U17 training camp, underscoring her ability at one of the highest levels of competition. Her success as a high school player prompted her to reclassify and join the Blue Devils’ program early.
The TopDrawerSoccer freshman All-American proved to be one to watch when she made an immediate impact by scoring in her exhibition debut. Her skilled footwork in combination with her knack for finding the back of the net should excite Duke fans as she steps onto the field this season. -Riya Khatod
Returning player to watch: Kat Rader
This should come as no surprise to those who have followed Duke women’s soccer for the previous two seasons. Forward Kat Rader’s goal-scoring prowess has clinched eight Blue Devil victories and kept them competitive in tight matches. The Stuart, Fla., native started all 16 games in 2023 and led Duke in goals scored and points, netting an impressive seven goals and accumulating 16 points. Her impact was evident from her freshman year, when she scored 12 goals — the highest among ACC freshmen — and accumulated 29 points, the most by any freshman nationally.
“Kat is proven. We need goals to continue to come from Kat. She's done a lot of really good things, not just score goals… when we don't have the ball, she's done a lot of really nice things too out of possession,” Church said.
Rader’s success has earned her countless accolades, including being named to the United Soccer Coaches second team and the All-ACC second team twice. Expectations are high for the junior, as she was chosen for the preseason All-ACC team for the second year in a row. -Khatod
Most anticipated matchup
With Duke being on the losing side of many close matches last season, the Blue Devils enter the 2024 season with a lot to prove. One of the team’s most painful losses came Oct. 13 against its intra-conference opponent Clemson — a game that was decided by a first-half penalty shot. While Church’s squad adjusted in the second half and had plenty of opportunities, they failed to execute and ultimately could not bring home a victory to fans at Koskinen Stadium. This season, the Tigers again prove to be a dangerous threat, entering the season as the No. 5 team in the country. Duke’s ability to compete with an ACC title contender on the road is central to the storyline of this season. If the Blue Devils are able to overcome their offensive struggles and find the back of the net, this should provide strong momentum to a team hungry to find its way back at the top of the rankings. -Sydney Olin
Best-case scenario
Many Duke fans would hope that Church gets the fairytale ending he deserves in his 24th and final season, and the Blue Devils have a decent chance at winning hardware this year. With important players like Roller and Rader returning to the squad, there is no shortage of experience on the team. In fact, Church also added a number of graduate transfers to the roster, who have all been successful veterans at their previous schools. If the team can find the chemistry of playing well together, it can certainly upset higher-ranked teams en route to perhaps a conference title and a run in the NCAA tournament. -Jun Tan
Worst-case scenario
With Duke failing to make both the ACC and the NCAA tournament last year, it could happen again. An overreliance on Rader led to her scoring seven of the Blue Devils’ unimpressive 15 total goals last season, and the team must work together to find ways to be more productive. Otherwise they will struggle against tough opponents such as Florida State, Stanford and Clemson who all possess serious attacking threats. Hence, it would be a disappointment for Church’s last season if Duke suffers an early exit from the ACC tournament. -Tan
Predictions
Chavis: 9-4-4 (5-3-2 in the ACC), loss in ACC semifinals, loss in NCAA round of 16
Khatod: 9-5-3 (4-4-2 in the ACC), loss in ACC first round, loss in NCAA round of 16
Olin: 9-3-5 (5-4-1 in the ACC), loss in ACC semifinals, loss in NCAA round of 16
Tan: 8-5-4 (4-3-3 in the ACC), loss in ACC semifinals, loss in NCAA round of 16
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