The way she talks about flying, Simmons is sure to be an active pilot for years.
"We got to get a win. These are the games that we need to get a big win," Church said.
With the score knotted at 1-1 in the 85th minute, it looked inevitable that Duke was heading into a second straight overtime matchup.
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 proved it could compete with one of the best teams in the ACC, but when all was said and done just couldn’t quite do enough to pull out the victory.
Duke’s match Thursday ended in a familiar setting: overtime.
Clemson boasts one of the top offenses in the ACC.
A better world is possible. And it starts with each of us, signing petitions and calling our local representatives and asking them to divest from the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
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.
The stakes were high for both teams going into the game.
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.
In their previous encounter, the Blue Devils and Wolfpack went head-to-head for 109 minutes.
For the first time in over 278 minutes, dating back to Sept. 17 against Virginia, the Blue Devils found the back of the net.
Two weeks ago, Duke kicked its schematic aggression into overdrive, fundamentally altering the identity of the team.
Despite this being their first official game of the season, the Tar Heels came out of the gate with speed and precision that the Blue Devils couldn’t match until well into the contest.
“We talk about [North] Carolina being a bully in the neighborhood," Church said. "This is the bully’s cousin in Clemson."
Duke ended a 20-year road losing streak to the Tar Heels last season.
