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Duke Freshman Prepare for Unusual Spring Season
2/24/2021 12:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer
By Daniela Schneider, Duke Communications Student Assistant
The Class of 2024 stepped onto Duke's campus in the midst of a pandemic after an abrupt ending to their high school career. There was no guidance from upperclassmen on how to navigate this new campus, made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores and with a long list of restrictions on what they could and couldn't do.Â
On top of that, Grace Watkins, Olivia Migli, Emily Royson, Nicky Chico, Maggie Graham, and Katie Groff – the six freshmen on the Duke women's soccer team – faced the challenge of adjusting to Division I-level soccer with an unusual schedule.Â
They are the first class that gets to play a second season this spring.Â
In a typical year, the soccer season is over by winter break. But the team played 13 games in the fall, all within the ACC, and is now scheduled to play another five matchups this spring, mostly out-of-conference play, before a potential run in the NCAA Tournament.Â
It's as if freshman year had a reset button.Â
"Not much has changed with COVID, but we know what to expect," said Chico, a defender from Wyckoff, N.J. "We've played games together, we know each other and I think we've all agreed that our goal is to just come in more relaxed and not try and fear as much of the unknown because we're all in it together."
Going into winter break with another season on the horizon meant only having a week off for Thanksgiving. Megan Rottler, the team's sports performance coach, sent them their fitness packets, and it was back to business for the girls in December.Â
Groff, a Raleigh, N.C., native, said there was more pressure over the break knowing that fitness tests were waiting for them when they stepped back on campus.Â
But this time around, the rookies aren't so inexperienced anymore. With seven conference wins and a season of practices under their belt, they've found their footing as collegiate student-athletes.Â
"Coming in, it's like a whole new level and it's so fast," said Migli, a forward from Haymarket, Va. "You're like, 'Oh, can I play here? Can I do this?' And I think throughout the fall, it was that realization that you can do it and you can play. I feel a lot more settled and comfortable going into the spring than I did in the fall."
Migli was also the team's leading scorer in the fall with four goals, including a pair in a road game at Miami on Nov. 1. Migli acknowledged it was "a good stepping point" for her confidence that she hopes to carry into the spring.
Gaining confidence this fall has been a common theme for all six freshmen, even though it'll be something they continue to build over their career at Duke.Â
"I think one of the biggest things that we all learned was the importance of having confidence when you play," said Watkins, a Manhattan Beach, Calif., native. "It's still super hard, and I know it's going to be hard when I'm a senior too. But just having a fall season under our belts will help us moving into the spring because we've had more experience playing games and even just going to practice."
The team is set to play a game per week starting from March 6, but won't know if it qualifies for the NCAA Tournament until April 18. Still, the end goal of winning a national title has not wavered.
"I think that our team is 100 percent capable of it," said Chico. "We have the skill, we have the mentality, but I think what's going to get us through it the most is the amount of heart and hard work that we have."
#GoDuke
Â
The Class of 2024 stepped onto Duke's campus in the midst of a pandemic after an abrupt ending to their high school career. There was no guidance from upperclassmen on how to navigate this new campus, made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores and with a long list of restrictions on what they could and couldn't do.Â
On top of that, Grace Watkins, Olivia Migli, Emily Royson, Nicky Chico, Maggie Graham, and Katie Groff – the six freshmen on the Duke women's soccer team – faced the challenge of adjusting to Division I-level soccer with an unusual schedule.Â
They are the first class that gets to play a second season this spring.Â
In a typical year, the soccer season is over by winter break. But the team played 13 games in the fall, all within the ACC, and is now scheduled to play another five matchups this spring, mostly out-of-conference play, before a potential run in the NCAA Tournament.Â
It's as if freshman year had a reset button.Â
"Not much has changed with COVID, but we know what to expect," said Chico, a defender from Wyckoff, N.J. "We've played games together, we know each other and I think we've all agreed that our goal is to just come in more relaxed and not try and fear as much of the unknown because we're all in it together."
Going into winter break with another season on the horizon meant only having a week off for Thanksgiving. Megan Rottler, the team's sports performance coach, sent them their fitness packets, and it was back to business for the girls in December.Â
Groff, a Raleigh, N.C., native, said there was more pressure over the break knowing that fitness tests were waiting for them when they stepped back on campus.Â
But this time around, the rookies aren't so inexperienced anymore. With seven conference wins and a season of practices under their belt, they've found their footing as collegiate student-athletes.Â
"Coming in, it's like a whole new level and it's so fast," said Migli, a forward from Haymarket, Va. "You're like, 'Oh, can I play here? Can I do this?' And I think throughout the fall, it was that realization that you can do it and you can play. I feel a lot more settled and comfortable going into the spring than I did in the fall."
Migli was also the team's leading scorer in the fall with four goals, including a pair in a road game at Miami on Nov. 1. Migli acknowledged it was "a good stepping point" for her confidence that she hopes to carry into the spring.
Gaining confidence this fall has been a common theme for all six freshmen, even though it'll be something they continue to build over their career at Duke.Â
"I think one of the biggest things that we all learned was the importance of having confidence when you play," said Watkins, a Manhattan Beach, Calif., native. "It's still super hard, and I know it's going to be hard when I'm a senior too. But just having a fall season under our belts will help us moving into the spring because we've had more experience playing games and even just going to practice."
The team is set to play a game per week starting from March 6, but won't know if it qualifies for the NCAA Tournament until April 18. Still, the end goal of winning a national title has not wavered.
"I think that our team is 100 percent capable of it," said Chico. "We have the skill, we have the mentality, but I think what's going to get us through it the most is the amount of heart and hard work that we have."
#GoDuke
Â
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
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