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Field Hockey Welcomes Pair of Transfers
7/15/2021 1:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
DURHAM – Head coach Pam Bustin and the Duke field hockey program are thrilled to welcome Marykate Neff and Grace Brightbill to Durham for the 2021 campaign.
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Neff and Brightbill come to Duke after three seasons at Princeton as the pair's 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. Each received an extra year due to the pandemic. Brightbill holds two years of eligibility after redshirting in 2017.
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A midfielder from Villanova, Pa., Neff comes to Duke after a strong career as a Tiger. From her freshman to junior seasons, she earned 59 starts in 60 games played. Neff registered 41 points from 17 goals and seven assists. She tallied a career-best 19 points as a rookie in 2017, scoring eight goals and assisting on three.
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"Duke field hockey is excited to welcome former Princeton standout Marykate Neff to our 2021 fall roster," said Bustin. "Marykate will undoubtedly bring an incredible degree of experience and maturity to our lineup and style of play. Her successes at Princeton and within the U.S. National program will contribute to our mission of excellence. We're grateful that Marykate chose Duke University to fulfill her academic goals and her remaining NCAA eligibility."Â
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While at Princeton, Neff was a two-time NFHCA Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection (2017, 2019) and was named to the Second Team All-Ivy as a freshman and junior, while earning Honorable Mention All-Ivy recognition in 2018.
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A goalkeeper from Alexandria, Va., Brightbill is eligible for the 2021 and 2022 seasons as a Blue Devil. Brightbill enrolled at Princeton in 2017 and did not play during her rookie season, earning a redshirt year. She saw action in two games as a sophomore, playing 38:54 and recording one save. Brightbill appeared in six games during her junior campaign, racking up 12 saves through 185:56 minutes on the turf in which she held a 2-0 record and a 0.65 goals against average.
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"We're fortunate to welcome another former Princeton Tiger in Grace Brightbill," said Bustin. "Grace will begin her master's coursework within Duke's acclaimed Public Policy program while representing Duke field hockey for the next two seasons. Her work ethic, cooperative spirit, playing experiences and approach to the game will instantly benefit our squad. I look forward to integrating Grace within our team defense and watching her impact strengthen our level of play."
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Brightbill is a four-time NFHCA All-Academic Squad honoree, receiving recognition every year as a Tiger. She recently earned the Active Listening Award for her involvement in the Student-Athlete Wellness Leaders (SWAL) program, most notably for being an exceptional leader among various community service groups.
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Duke opens its 2021 season in 43 days against Rutgers on Friday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. on Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium.
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#GoDuke
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Neff and Brightbill come to Duke after three seasons at Princeton as the pair's 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. Each received an extra year due to the pandemic. Brightbill holds two years of eligibility after redshirting in 2017.
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A midfielder from Villanova, Pa., Neff comes to Duke after a strong career as a Tiger. From her freshman to junior seasons, she earned 59 starts in 60 games played. Neff registered 41 points from 17 goals and seven assists. She tallied a career-best 19 points as a rookie in 2017, scoring eight goals and assisting on three.
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"Duke field hockey is excited to welcome former Princeton standout Marykate Neff to our 2021 fall roster," said Bustin. "Marykate will undoubtedly bring an incredible degree of experience and maturity to our lineup and style of play. Her successes at Princeton and within the U.S. National program will contribute to our mission of excellence. We're grateful that Marykate chose Duke University to fulfill her academic goals and her remaining NCAA eligibility."Â
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While at Princeton, Neff was a two-time NFHCA Second Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection (2017, 2019) and was named to the Second Team All-Ivy as a freshman and junior, while earning Honorable Mention All-Ivy recognition in 2018.
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A goalkeeper from Alexandria, Va., Brightbill is eligible for the 2021 and 2022 seasons as a Blue Devil. Brightbill enrolled at Princeton in 2017 and did not play during her rookie season, earning a redshirt year. She saw action in two games as a sophomore, playing 38:54 and recording one save. Brightbill appeared in six games during her junior campaign, racking up 12 saves through 185:56 minutes on the turf in which she held a 2-0 record and a 0.65 goals against average.
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"We're fortunate to welcome another former Princeton Tiger in Grace Brightbill," said Bustin. "Grace will begin her master's coursework within Duke's acclaimed Public Policy program while representing Duke field hockey for the next two seasons. Her work ethic, cooperative spirit, playing experiences and approach to the game will instantly benefit our squad. I look forward to integrating Grace within our team defense and watching her impact strengthen our level of play."
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Brightbill is a four-time NFHCA All-Academic Squad honoree, receiving recognition every year as a Tiger. She recently earned the Active Listening Award for her involvement in the Student-Athlete Wellness Leaders (SWAL) program, most notably for being an exceptional leader among various community service groups.
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Duke opens its 2021 season in 43 days against Rutgers on Friday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. on Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium.
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#GoDuke
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