August 27, 2013

the chronicle

august 27, 2013

FALL SPORTS PREVIEW

WOMEN’S SOCCER: GUNNING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP • FIELD HOCKEY: BLAZING SISTERS REUNITE

2 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

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FIELD HOCKEY

Blue Devils host Blazing family reunion

by Danielle Lazarus THE CHRONICLE

Lauren Blazing entered the fieldhouse after a long day of preseason practice, but she noticed there was something missing from her locker. Crossing the room, Lauren approached the second locker labeled “Blazing,” belonging to her sister, Robin.

“People always ask us if we’re fighting,” Lauren said. “I found out she stole some of my clothes so I snagged those back from the locker room.”

Redshirt sophomore Lauren and freshman Robin have played field hockey together for most of their lives, starting in their childhood and continuing through high school. Now, for three years, they will both be members of Duke’s field hockey team.

Although Robin is prone to borrowing her big sister’s clothes, playing with each other on the field has allowed the sisters to get to know each other in a completely different way.

“She has this goalie voice I haven’t heard before,” Robin said. “It’s crazy loud and crazy deep. It’s like, is that even my sister? And I’ll hear it on the field and do exactly what she says.”

The Blazings took similar journeys to

CHRIS DIECKHAUS/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Redshirt sophomore Lauren Blazing will be joined by her younger sister Robin on Duke’s field hockey team this season.

get to Duke. Both sisters attended Durham Academy—only a 10-minute car ride from campus—and decided to become Blue Devils to stay in their hometown. Both girls will not have extremely productive freshman seasons. Lauren redshirted her first year behind All-American goalkeeper Samantha Nelson, and Robin is one of nine forwards

on the Blue Devils’ depth chart. And both girls aim to take similar paths through college—Lauren has given Robin advice about school, with the sisters taking many of the same classes, resulting in some confusion from their professors.

“She took the same religion seminar that I’m taking, and I’m pretty sure my professor thought I was her,” Robin said. “After class he came up to me and was like, ‘Lauren, great to see you,’ and I said, ‘No, I’m not Lauren.’”

Lauren appeared in every game last season except for five, during which she played on the United States U21 National Team at the Junior Pan-American games. With the Blue Devils, she recorded 51 saves, which was good for fifth in the ACC, and a shutout.

After playing at the Junior World Cup this summer, Duke head coach Pam Bustin said Blazing is on the cusp of having a breakout season in 2013. “[Lauren] has really exploded into this force of a goalkeeper,” Bustin said. “She is so quick and strong, and you add that to her intelligence about the game, and she’s going to keep growing into quite a goalkeeper.”

Robin, meanwhile, continues to discover her role as a Blue Devil. A thirdteam All-American in high school, she has See BLAZING, page 7

Beat’sTake The Scoop: With eight seniors, the No. 22 Blue Devils will depend on veteran leadership to make an impact in the ACC after finishing winless in conference play last season.

Key Players: Forward Emmie Le Marchand—The engine of Duke’s offense, the speedy Le Marchand led the Blue Devils in goals, points and shots in 2012.

Defender Paula Heimbach—A preseason All-ACC selection, Heimbach has anchored Duke’s back line for three years, and will need stamina this season with

only three true defenders on the Blue Devils’ roster.

Midfielder Devon Gagliardi—Gagliardi has appeared in every game for the last three seasons, and, with her experience as a redshirt senior, will be a key leader on both offense and defense.

Key Games: Sept. 27 at North Carolina, Oct. 11 at Virginia, Nov. 2 at Maryland Prediction: Fifth in the ACC, miss NCAA tournament —Danielle Lazarus

CHRIS DIECKHAUS/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

As Duke’s leading scorer last year, senior Emmie Le Marchand will serve as a valuable mentor to Robin Blazing during her freshman season.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 | 3

VOLLEYBALL

McCurdy has Duke eyeing NCAA tournament

by Olivia Banks THE CHRONICLE

With senior nior captains Ali McCurdy and Chelseaa Cook leading the charge, evils are hungrier than ever the Blue Devils to return the he team to college’s largest stage.

Since missing ssing the NCAA tournament last year forr the first time since the 2004 season, the Blue Devils have added four an to the mix, whose talents new freshman have already ready proven to be assets in the gym.

“We’re making a lot of progress,” head coach Jolene Nagel said. “We’re nowhere near ear where we want to be yet, but we’re re still relatively young.”

The returning rning squad has been an rt in helping to familiarintegral part ize the new w players with the Duke volleyball environment. McCurdy has been vocal ocal on the back line, helping to mold the new freshmen before preseason eason begins. at that we are so close “It’s great nd off the court,” Mcboth on and Curdy said. “We’re able to communicate really well what we think is working and ght need to switch up a little what we might bit.”

After thee loss of senior middle block-

er Christiana Gray, who wa was the cornerstone of the squad last season, the Blue Devils will have to make some adjustments, adjustm parchallen ticularly with a challenging road schedule in front of them. them The graduated Gray delivered 137 blocks last season, sec second most on the team behind Cook Cook.

“Christiana is i a hard one to replace,” replac Nagel said. “But at the same we’v gained a time, we’ve couple of good playg fresh ers here as freshmen that need some experience but exper I think are going tto do great for us.”

McCurdy agrees that th staying th primain the moment is the ry concern for the team tea at this stage and said that focusing on fo the present is going to allow the girls to excel on the co court.

After last abunllaast a season’s seaso dance of nagging injuries, the Blue DevB ils are healthy and is il health poised for a comeback. comeba Nagel See VOLLEYB VOLLEYBALL, page 7

NICOLE SAVAGE/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Ali McCurdy, the ACC’s two-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year, will be key to Duke’s success as the team hopes to return to the NCAA tournament.

Beat’sTake The Scoop: Duke’s senior captains are determined to lead a young squad back to the NCAA tournament after last season’s team came up short. A strong sophomore class has a full season under its belt, and some instant-impact freshmen have enough talent for the Blue Devils to hang with any team in the ACC.

last year’s team with 296 kills and ranked third with 92 blocks, and will ameliorate the loss of Christiana Gray to graduation.

Key Players: Libero Ali McCurdy—A fouryear starter and two-time reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, McCurdy is a steady presence on the court for the Blue Devils, notching 672 digs last season.

Games to Watch: Sept. 8 at No. 6 Minnesota, Oct. 25 vs. No. 18 Florida State, Nov. 29 vs. North Carolina

Middle Blocker Elizabeth Campbell—The sophomore from Colorado ranked fourth on

Middle Blocker Chelsea Cook—With 29 service aces for last year’s team, Cook’s serving prowess and solid blocking ability will help smooth the rough patches for a young team that continues to develop.

Prediction: Fifth in the ACC, NCAA tournament second round —Ryan Hoerger

Duke Athletics Fri., Aug. 30 at 3 pm

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Football vs. N.C. Central Wallace Wade Stadium

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WOMEN’S SOCCER

Seniors seek return to College Cup Anasi returns as anchor of Duke’s defense

Doria makes the most of lost season

by Ryan Hoerger

by Matt Pun

THE CHRONICLE

THE CHRONICLE

Beginning with its run to the national championship game in 2011, Duke’s defensive intensity has been at the core of the team’s success. But after losing goalkeeper Tara Campbell and defenders Erin Koballa, Maddy Haller and Libby Jandl to graduation, senior Natasha Anasi is the lone remaining member of the Blue Devils’ fearsome back line.

As Anasi prepares to anchor Duke’s defensive unit once again in 2013, head coach Robbie Church said he wants to avoid relying too heavily on his stalwart center back as the Blue Devils begin to work new players into the defensive rotation.

“We have to be careful that we don’t put too much pressure on Natasha that it takes away from her quality game that she has,” Church said. “We don’t want her to play everybody’s position. She has to direct a lot back there, so her role has changed some, but she’s always been a great leader for us.”

A native of Arlington, Texas, Anasi has left her mark on a program known for its defensive tenacity under Church’s leadership. Anasi saw significant playing time as a reserve during her freshman season before carving out a spot for herself in Duke’s starting lineup as a sophomore.

Church was effusive in his praise of his senior leader.

“She’s one of the top center backs in the country,” Church said. “She can defend, she can attack, she’s great in the air, she’s athletic—she’s really the whole package.”

Thanks to Anasi and her now-graduated cohorts in the backfield, the Blue Devils have used stubborn defense to make deep postseason runs in the past three years. In Anasi’s freshman season, Duke allowed just one goal per game and advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament. In 2011, the Blue Devils clicked on all cylinders, allowing 0.50 goals per game and falling 1-0 to Stanford in the national championship match.

Last season, the defense was spotty at

Although the Blue Devil depth chart has already taken several hits due to injuries, head coach Robbie Church will have an extra leader on the sidelines to look to this season.

After tearing her ACL this spring, Gilda Doria knew that she would no longer able to play her senior season in 2013, but that did not stop her teammates from voting her one of Duke’s three team captains.

“We’re going to miss her a great deal, there’s no question about it,” Church said. “But she has thrown herself into this from the very beginning. ‘How can I help the team? How can I make the team better? What roles can I fill?’”

A pivotal player in Duke’s midfield, the 5-foot-7 Doria had not missed a game since arriving on campus as a freshman.

Before missing the Blue Devils’ season-opening victory against No. 12 Texas A&M Friday, Doria had appeared in all 73 games of her career, making 54 starts.

As a junior, she notched six goals and finished 13th nationally with 11 assists, but Church believes her impact on the team goes beyond the box score.

“Gilda is one of those players that sometimes gets overlooked by everyone but the coaches and the players in the sense that she doesn’t get some of the accolades that some of our other players [do],” Church said. “But, she is the glue that held us together.”

Doria has continued to bring the team together even from her spot on the sidelines this fall. As the Blue Devils have gone through training camp in preparation for the season, Doria has kept busy helping the team in various ways.

“Whether it’s making ice bags or putting together the pregame videos for our

ELYSIA SU/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Playing with a new goalkeeper and three new starters on the back line, senior Natasha Anasi will be a valuable leader for the Blue Devils.

times, but became less porous down the olina, while defender Malinda Allen and stretch as the Blue Devils advanced to midfielder Toni Payne also saw game acthe NCAA quarterfinals. tion. Nevertheless, the defense remains Entering her senior campaign, Ana- very much a work in progress. si must mentor the next generation of “We have to teach them a whole new Duke defenders if Church said.

“We have to be careful that system,” the team is to make “It’s a lot of little another serious run we don’t put too much things, they’re very at an elusive first natalented, but they’re tional title. So far, pressure on Natasha that still learning. It’s not she likes what she it takes away from her all just instinct like has seen. it was with the older “I’m thoroughly quality game that she has.” players.” impressed by how The freshmen are fast they were able ROBBIE CHURCH not the only fresh HEAD COACH, DUKE WOMEN’S to learn [the sysfaces to crack the SOCCER tem],” Anasi said.

Blue Devil starting “The experience we have in other posi- lineup. Junior Tabria Williford is getting tions has been helpful because they were a chance to play on a regular basis after able to do the jobs they needed to do sitting behind the now-graduated Haller but also help these younger players. I’ve for two seasons. been trying to give them all the knowlSee ANASI, page 8 edge that I have.”

Church agreed that his new faces are performing quite well given their limited exposure to the Duke defensive scheme.

Freshmen defenders Christina Gibbons and Lizzy Raben both started and played the full 90 minutes in Duke’s second regular season game against South Car-

See DORIA, page 8

Beat’sTake The Scoop: The Blue Devils return their top four scorers from last season’s powerhouse of an offense, but will need new faces to step up on the back line and in goal to make a deep playoff run. With injuries to midfielders Gilda Doria and Cassie Pecht— the team’s two leaders in assists last season—Duke will also have to find another playmaker to organize the offense.

Key Players: Forward Kim DeCesare—A fifth-year senior who tied for the teamlead in goals last season with 16 despite midseason injuries, DeCesare has the skill set to play anywhere on the field.

Defender Natasha Anasi—The lone hold-

over from Duke’s 2011 defense that paved the way for a national championship run, Anasi will have to help several young backs grow into their roles quickly.

Midfielder Kaitlyn Kerr—With teammate Gilda Doria missing the season due to injury, Kerr will have an even bigger responsibility in orchestrating Duke’s attacks.

Games to Watch: Sept. 8 vs. No. 5 UCLA, Sept. 15 vs. No. 3 Florida State, Oct. 31 at No. 1 North Carolina Prediction: Second in ACC, National Semifinalist —Matt Pun

ELYSIA SU/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Senior Gilda Doria will miss the 2013 season after tearing her ACL last spring, but was still voted one of Duke’s captains by her teammates.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 | 5

CROSS COUNTRY

Duke hits the ground running in 2013 Men’s team tries for 4th NCAA Championship trip in 5 years

Women’s team enters with high expectations

by Ali Wells THE CHRONICLE

SARAH ELSAKR/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Duke returns a number of runners with NCAA Championship experience as the team hopes to qualify for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

by Ali Wells THE CHRONICLE

The Blue Devils hope to build on a 30th place finish at the NCAA Championships last year with three top runners returning to lead the he team.

With a team goal to return to the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in n five years, the maturity of co-captains senior Brian Atkinson and fifth-year senior Mike Moverman, erman, as well as junior Shaun Thompson, will bee key for motivating less-experienced members of the team to fill the remaining four scoring positions. tions.

Atkinson ran a personal best st at the NCAA Championships last year and is eager to compete again.

“Brian Atkinson is as fit as anybody ybody I have ever seen in August,” head coach Norm Ogilvie said. “He has been consistently hitting 100 miles iles a week this summer…doing it under control and feeling great. I know he’s really hungry.”

Moveman also returns this season ason to lead the team. His performances nces last year include a faster 10,000-meter run than Atkinson’s, demonstrating the strength ength of the team’s frontrunners.

Thompson returns to cross country after an outstanding track season last st spring. He completed the steeplechase in under nine minutes, which was one of the top five per-

formances of all time by a Duke athlete.

With high hopes for this season, Atkinson said that the team is not only more physically prepared for the season—with a highe higher preseason average mileage than last year—but year—b also more mentally prepared for a challen challenging schedule.

“None of us had been to nationals before last year.” Atkinson ssaid. “We were just going in deer-in-the-headlights. deer-in-the-headligh It’s great mentally that we will have guys coming back who know what co it’s like and will be able to get the younger guys a ready from first-hand experience.”

Ogilvie expects the seven scoring positions positio to include mainly fifthyears, yea seniors, and juniors, but said a number of runners could step up to fill those spots.

“We probably have more potential fourth- and fifthpo men me than I can ever remember,” Ogilvie said. “I think our depth is even better this year than we have had in the past.

We have had a string of really good recruiting years, and we are starting starti to see that pay off now.”

The depth dep of the team gives a favorable forecast for the season ahead. for See M. CROSS COUNTRY, page 8

Beat’sTake

The Blue Devils return two top-30 finishers from nationals last year, and incoming freshman Wesley Frazier may may prove to be a key asset as the team seeks another top-10 finish this season.

Duke wrapped up its season last year with a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships and begins this season ranked second in the Track and Field News preseason poll. Fifth-year senior Juliet Bottorff closed last season with a 27th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors and will be a key runner heading into the season “When she is on our team and running, we are a good team,” head coach Kevin Jermyn said. “When she hasn’t been, we haven’t been nearly as good. The correlation there is exceptionally high.”

The team finished second to Florida State in the ACC Championships last year, and Jermyn said that one of the team’s biggest goals is to give the Seminoles a close run for the championship title.

The Blue Devils are in an excellent position to close the gap. In addition to Bortoff, the team returns its two other top-three runners from last year with sophomore Kelsey Lakowske and junior Carolyn Baskir.

Last year, Lakowske earned All-America honors with a 20th-place finish at the NCAA Championships in her

See W. CROSS COUNTRY, page 8

SARAH ELSAKR/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

The Blue Devils hope to challenge reigning national champion Florida State for an ACC title this season.

Beat’sTake

The Scoop: With five of the seven scoring runners returning this season, the men’s cross country team looks to improve upon its fifth-place and 30th-place finishes at the ACC and NCAA Championships, respectively. Head coach Norm Ogilvie hopes to utilize Duke’s past successful recruiting years to fill out the remaining four positions from many talented potential scorers.

Mike Moverman—A fifth-year senior, Moverman finished 179th at the NCAA Championships in 2012 and earned All-ACC honors with a ninth-place finish at the ACC Championships.

Key Players: Brian Atkinson—Finishing 129th at the NCAA Championships with a personal record time, Atkinson, a senior, earned All-ACC honors with a 17th-place finish at the ACC Championships last season.

Meets to watch: Sept. 14 at Furman XC Classic, Oct. 11 at Royals Challenge, Oct. 19 at NCAA Pre-Nationals

Shaun Thompson—Returning as a junior, Thompson wrapped up a successful outdoor track season and hopes to help pace Duke’s core group of frontrunners.

Prediction: Fifth at ACC Championships, 26th at NCAA Championships —Ali Wells

The Scoop: Duke enters the season ranked No. 2 by the Track and Field News preseason poll. The strength of both the returning and incoming runners puts the Blue Devils in excellent position for a top-ten finish at the NCAA Championships again this season. Head coach Kevin Jermyn said that one of the team’s biggest goals is giving Florida State, the defending champions, a close run for the ACC title.

All-America honors last season after her respective third- and 27th-place finishes at the ACC and NCAA Championships.

Key Players: Kelsey Lakowske—Earned All-ACC and All-America honors with her sixth- and 20th-places finishes at the ACC and NCAA Championships, respectively.

Meets to watch: Sept. 28 at Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational, Oct. 4 at Notre Dame Invitational, Oct. 11 at Royals Challenge

Juliet Bottorff—Returning as a fifthyear senior, Bottorff earned All-ACC and

Wesley Frazier—The Raleigh native earned 17 All-America honors and eight national titles, as well as being the first high school girl to win the 1,600, 3,200 and 5,000 meters—what is referred to as “the long-distance triple”—at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in June.

Prediction: Second at ACC Championships, Fourth at NCAA Championships —Ali Wells

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6 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

MEN’S SOCCER

Blue Devils hope for new offensive spark

by Danielle Lazarus THE CHRONICLE

This season, it’s all about balance.

“We won’t be one-dimensional like we’ve been in the past,” Duke head coach John Kerr said.

In 2011, Duke’s offense was explosive. The Blue Devils outscored their opponents 44-30, taking nearly 17 shots a game. Their offense was powered by midfielder Andrew Wenger, the 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy winner who tied Duke’s record for single-season goals with 17. Wenger was drafted first overall by the Montreal Impact in the MLS SuperDraft following his junior season.

The Blue Devils felt Wenger’s absence in 2012, with an offense unable to make up for his production.

Scoring only 20 goals in 18 games, Duke was forced to depend heavily on its defense, specifically goaltender James Belshaw. Starting all but two games during his four-year Duke career, Belshaw ranked second in the ACC in saves and shutouts during his senior season.

Belshaw was selected by the Chicago Fire with the 49th pick in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft.

Kerr has transformed his offense, shifting his players around the field and adding an influx of offensive power with his current freshman class. The improved Blue Devil attack will focus largely on junior Sean Davis, a midfielder who mainly worked with distributing the ball in his first two seasons. Although Davis will still be an anchor in the midfield, Kerr knows his co-captain will become another weapon to the attack.

“Sean Davis has really developed his game,” Kerr said. “We’ve kind of changed his mindset. You’ll see this year, when the time presents itself, he’ll be a really dangerous threat.”

Freshmen Brody Huitema and Seo-In Kim each tallied a goal and an assist in their first contest in Duke blue, and will continue to be go-to guys into the regular season.

After placing fourth with the U18 Canadian National Team at the COTIF U20 tournament in Spain, Huitema joined the Blue Devils on Friday before his team’s final scrimmage against Old Dominion. Despite

KEVIN SHAMIEH AND CHRIS DIECKHAUS/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Juniors Nick Palodichuk (left) and Matt Slotnick (right) will both play crucial roles in Duke’s offensive attack.

Beat’sTake

See M. SOCCER, page 7

The Scoop: After scoring only 20 goals in 18 games last year, the Blue Devils need to galvanize their offense and hope to do so with position changes and a strong incoming freshman class. Their entire back line remains intact, but Duke will need to adjust to a transfer goalkeeper.

Key Players: Goaltender Alex Long—A transfer from South Carolina, Long boasts an extensive resume, but replacing recent graduate James Belshaw, who anchored Duke’s defense for the last four years, will be difficult.

Forward Brody Huitema—Huitema is the face of the freshman class, and is being touted as the difference maker in strengthening the Blue Devils’ offense. He’s no fluke so

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far—he notched a goal and assist in his first exhibition match Friday.

Defender Sebastien Ibeagha—The reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Ibeagha was also the team’s leading goal scorer in 2012. Duke’s co-captain was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list, awarded to the top soccer player in the nation.

Games to watch: Sept. 20 vs. No. 24 Syracuse, Sept. 27 at No. 16 Notre Dame, Oct. 4 vs. No. 4 North Carolina Prediction: Sixth in the ACC, NCAA tournament first round —Danielle Lazarus

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During his junior season in 2012, defender Sebastien Ibeagha was the Blue Devils’leading scorer, finding the back of the net on five occasions.

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VOLLEYBALL

from page 3

said Duke was also aided by the exposure it got when the team was abroad in Europe during the summer.

“Last year, not making the NCAA tournament really left a sour taste in our mouth,” Cook said. “We’ve been working hard every day since then to try to get back to that point.”

Hard work is something that McCurdy also knows a lot about, after being named back-to-back ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012. “[McCurdy] is the hardest worker on our team, and she’s been that way since our freshman year,” Cook said. “She

holds herself to such a high standard that everyone else is pushing to be just as hard of a worker as she is.”

McCurdy’s diligence is evidenced by her continued improvement on the court every season. Nagel said that McCurdy’s knack for correcting problem areas in her game is what makes her such an important part of the team, particularly as a captain.

“She has a lot of special qualities, and I see her continuing to have a great year and to be the anchor of our defense,” Nagel said. “I feel very comforted to know we have both [McCurdy] and [Cook] out there.”

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 | 7

DAN SCHIERER/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Senior captain Chelsea Cook hopes to lead her team back to the NCAA tournament.

BLAZING

from page 2

shots on goal last season.

But Lauren has been helping Robin the been using preseason to adjust to the inten- most, using her experience to guide her litsity of college athletics. tle sister into her first collegiate season.

“It’s been a little “She’s so encourchallenging as a fresh- “She took the same religion aging, and she has man because your helped me a lot,” says skills aren’t as good seminar I’m taking, and Robin. “After being and you aren’t used to three preseaI’m pretty sure my profes- through being on this team,” sons, she knows what she said. “I think as a sor thought I was her.” to do. If I have any freshman I play a role, questions I can go to but I would like to play ROBIN BLAZING her.” a bigger role… I want FRESHMAN FORWARD But both sisters, to be contributing on at the end of the day, the field as one of the main players.” have benefited from having family on and Duke boasts seven seniors on its roster, off the field. including forwards Emmie Le Marchand, “You have your teammates, and they’re and McKay Ross and also has one graduate your best friends,” Lauren said. “But having student, forward Cherry Seaborn. Le March- your sister there, we can support each other and led the Blue Devils in goals, shots, and and also have these special family moments.”

KEVIN SHAMIEH/CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO

Duke returns its entire starting back line from last season, including junior Nat Eggleston, who helped lead the Blue Devils to nine shutouts in 18 games.

M. SOCCER

from page 6

never having played with his teammates, it didn’t take Huitema long to get acclimated—he notched a goal and an assist in his first collegiate game.

“The guys were really easy to play with,” Huitema said. “They’re a talented group of players and they’re what I’m used to playing with. It’s not too hard of an adjustment.”

From a defensive standpoint, South Carolina-transfer Alex Long, a graduate student, replaces Belshaw in goal.

During his redshirt sophomore season, Long started all 19 games between the pipes for the Gamecocks, leading the team to the Conference USA regular season title and the third round of the NCAA tournament. The 6-foot-2 goalkeeper was back in goal in 2012, making 52 saves with five shutouts. “[Alex] comes in as a very experienced goalkeeper,” Kerr said. “His size, his presence are remarkable. He covers up a lot of the goal by just standing still there, but he can move. He’s had an exceptional preseason… and we feel extremely confident with him back there.”

Also protecting the net is senior defender Sebastien Ibeagha, who was re-

cently named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list. The reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Ibeagha was also the Blue Devils’ leading goal scorer in 2012 with five tallies. All of Duke’s starting defenders from last season—senior Rob Dolot and juniors Nat Eggleston and Jack Coleman—will return.

“We won’t be one-dimensional like we’ve been in the past.”

JOHN KERR HEAD COACH, DUKE MEN’S SOCCER

“As a back four we were very solid,” Ibeagha said. “The fact that we have that back now helps… I feel like that makes it very easy for [Alex] because we know our jobs.”

After a long preseason, Duke is prepared to make an impact in the regular season.

“We really addressed our shortcomings at the end of last season,” Kerr said. “This group has emerged and developed and it’s primed and ready to move forward.”

DORIA

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8 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

from page 4

team or motivating players on the field, I’ve kind of taken a whatever-it-takes mentality,” she said.

The senior captain has made a particular impact through her interactions with the new players.

In her three seasons on the field, Doria earned the respect of her teammates and played an important role in orchestrating the offense through the midfield along with seniors Kaitlyn Kerr and Mollie Pathman.

Her teammates felt confident enough in her abilities to vote her captain after they knew she would not be able to return to the field at all in the fall.

“Gilda is such an inspiration to all of us,” Pathman said.

“She’s a constant voice on and off the field…. Even though she’s not going to be on the field, her presence is always there.”

In practice, Doria has served as an extra set of eyes for the coaching staff, keeping a close watch on her teammates and offering them advice to improve.

Church said the younger players have benefited from the opportunities they have had to learn from the sidelined captain when she has pulled them aside.

“She’s got a great soccer sense and she’s been able to relay that to the whole team,” he said. “She’s not scared of going up and telling, ‘Hey, you’re not working hard enough. You’ve got to work harder on this team.’”

As Doria has learned how to serve the Blue Devils as a leader despite her injury, she has also picked up on a few things she did not notice from being on the field.

“I don’t think I ever really appreciated as much as I have now how hard we work and how talented we really are,” she said.

The midfielder, who said she could be able to run by October either this month or next, will also have the opportunity to use her new perspective. Doria said she will use her fifth year of eligibility and return as a redshirt senior in 2014.

“This is only going to make her game grow when she comes back next year,” Church said.

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ANASI

from page 4

Anasi said having two experienced—though not game-tested—keepers in redshirt junior Meghan Thomas and redshirt sophomore Ali Kershner has helped her teach the incoming defenders.

“Having two keepers who are pretty experienced, even though they didn’t get much experience because Tara Campbell was here, having another voice behind me is extremely helpful because it helps organize things back there,” Anasi said.

As Duke’s defense continues to grow and experiment with different players in different spots, Church said he can rely on Anasi as the key of a developing unit, linking the Blue Devils’ past successes to future aspirations.

“We’re sort of like a Rubik’s Cube: we’re trying to find the right people to put at the right places,” Church said. “The last two years most of our starting lineup has been intact, so this is a little refreshing.”

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Additionally, the team will have the opportunity to run on the regional and national courses at meets early in the season, so they will be mentally prepared for the tough checkpoints and able to envision their races in the weeks building up to championships, a strategy captain Mike Moveman emphasizes.

After making another run to the NCAA Championships in 2012, Ogilvie hopes that the depth of the team will allow them to do so again and finish the end of the season even stronger, but the team will be tested early.

The Blue Devils face many nationally ranked opponents and will open the season Sept. 14 with the Furman Cross Country Classic in Greenville, S.C. “Our philosophy has always been we will face anybody, anywhere, anytime,” Ogilvie said. “I think our schedule shows that.”

W. CROSS COUNTRY

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first season at Duke, and Baskir also contributed to the Blue Devils’ championship performance with a personal best 6000-meter time.

The team has embraced its talented incoming freshmen, especially the highly-touted Frazier. She is a 17-time All-America honoree, an eight-time national champion, and the first high school girl to win the 1,600, 3,200 and 5,000 meters—what is referred to as “the long-distance triple”—at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in June.

Jermyn believes that Frazier could have early success as a Blue Devil.

“She is already doing things in her first week here that I haven’t seen happen too many times at Duke,” he said. “That, as a coach, is a really exciting position to be in when you see uncharted territory being reached in training.”

Duke’s preseason training trip to the mountains in Blowing Rock united the team’s old and new members before the stress of the school year. The low-key time gave incoming freshmen the opportunity to get comfortable with their teammates and coaching staff. The experience in the mountains will provide a base for team unity that the girls can build on throughout the season.

Senior Rebecca Craigie said that team synergy is key to the team’s success in what often is seen as an individual sport.

“Every race matters,” Craigie said. “You really have to push yourself for your teammates. It’s a strong influence that can really motivate you at the end of hard race.”

The Blue Devils will open the season with the Bull City Classic this Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium.