Seniors Ferger and Schoffstall Leave Strong Impression on Duke Field Hockey

This past Saturday's game against Virginia marked the final regular season home contest for two Blue Devil seniors - Susan Ferger and Sarah Schoffstall.

Over the past four years, these two veterans have played in a combined 140 games with the Blue Devils, leading Duke to two NCAA Tournament appearances and a run to the national quarterfinals in 2008.

Ferger, a forward from Columbus, Ohio, has been a four-year starter, amassing 27 goals, eight assists and 62 points during her time in Durham. She was an All-South honoree in 2007 and has earned NFHCA Academic All-America recognition in her career.

A defender from New Tripoli, Pa., Schoffstall ahs played in 66 games, starting 48, in her career. A two-year captain, she has helped anchor the Duke backline this season, while earning NFHCA Academic All-America and Academic All-ACC honors during her career.

Read Abby Hassinger and Samantha Nelson's comments below to learn the full impact of these two seniors.

From Abby Hassinger...
The seniors have been such an important influence on the underclassmen. Their leadership, as well as their friendship, has encouraged us to become better players as well as better individuals. Sarah and Sue are constantly going above and beyond their required duties to this team and have made this season one of the most rewarding thus far. Their determination and drive have inspired us all to work a little harder and give a little more. Sarah has been an amazing mentor and we know she will continue to do so in the future. Her passion for field hockey is contagious. Sue has been a leader both on and off the field. She is always offering us underclassmen advice about field hockey. Sue's kind spirit and bubbly personality will be greatly missed. We want to thank our seniors for all they have done for this team! They will be greatly, greatly missed.

From Samantha Nelson...
I feel extremely fortunate to have two sue great friends and teammates in Sarah and Sue. Over the past four years, I can honestly say that there are no two better people to lead this team.

Sarah has been a source of constant support for me personally and most everybody on this team. She has been our fearless leader, she pushes us to be better and always holds us to this highest standards. This is particularly inspiring because Sarah herself is so motivated; when Sarah sets out to do something, there is no doubt she will accomplish it. She is wise beyond her years, and this team has been undeniably changed by her legacy.

Sue is one of the toughest people I know. She can take anything you throw at her; she just takes it in stride and makes it look easy. Her commitment to the team these past four years has been absolutely unwavering, and in tough times that has been an invaluable quality. I admire Susan greatly because she operates with complete integrity in everything she does. She will, without a doubt, leave behind a stronger program that will remember her for her dedication and steadfastness.

Molly Johnson Grants Fans Inside Access to Weekend Results

On Friday, we had our much anticipated night game against William & Mary. In the locker room, everyone was anxious to get out on the field and play, but due to delayed referee arrival, our game was unexpectedly postponed from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. However, this minor setback did not stop us from dominating the game for over 90% of the time. Although our domination may not be apparent in the final score of 1-0, we accomplished our first win of the weekend.

After the game, our attention shifted to an opponent of more strength: Old Dominion. We had all the tools we needed to win Sunday's game, and knew that ODU would not throw anything at us that we hadn't seen before. We used our loss to them earlier in the season as fuel to pump us up and motivate us to go out strong, leaving no room for regrets. In games of this intensity, scoring the first goal is crucial to gain the momentum necessary to win. Our freshman defender Brenna Rescigno took this in stride, scoring two goals off of direct corner hits. Although ODU came back in the second half to tie it up and put the game into overtime, our fight and heart (and obvious overtime experience) were clear as day when Mary Nielsen scored in the first 47 seconds of the golden goal overtime.

Our 2-0 weekend felt especially good since midterm exams are finally over and since we were able to spend more time than usual with our parents, for those who could make it to Virginia. It also made Susan and my birthdays on Monday especially happy. We are all very excited to finish out the conference season with two more wins, against Penn State this weekend and against UVa on October 30.

Additionally, one of our team's favorite events - Halloween - is fast approaching! It's always fun to be able to assign the coaches their costumes ... although sometimes the assignments they give us in return are really hard to find or construct costumes for!

- Molly

Rhian Jones Discusses Last Week's Results

Last weekend, the Duke field hockey team faced two Boston rivals in Boston College and Boston University. Eager to get our competitive nature riled up for the weekend, the team had a competition day on Friday at practice, where the blondes faced off against the brunettes. Clad in pink ribbons, sparkly tank tops, and striped socks the blondes proved victorious in the battle of the hues. Following a fun day of practice, the whole team and our parents were invited to dinner at Beth’s house where we filled up on delicious food and relaxed before the big weekend.

Saturday’s game against BC was a narrow loss and reminded us of our need to be engaged for the full game and finish our opportunities. Eager to redeem our performance and get back on track for the remainder of our season, the team was determined to come away with a win on Sunday. Boston University was physical and powerful, but our desire to win shone throughout the 70 minutes and a crafty goal by Caashia gave us the win. The victory was a reminder of how dangerous our team can be when we operate as a unit and work hard. I was so excited and proud of our performance on Sunday and the feeling has carried over into this week of practice. The team and I are eager to bring home two wins in the critical matchups against the University of Maryland and American University this weekend!

Go Duke!

-Rhian

2010 Field Hockey Player Survey

The members of the Duke field hockey team recently completed a team survey, giving fans the inside scoop on the program from the players themselves. Each student-athlete was asked the following questions about their teammates. The number in parentheses indicates the number of votes for that individual. Only student-athletes with two or more votes were listed in the results. The Blue Devils hit the road this weekend to take on No. 2 Maryland Saturday, Oct. 9 and No. 10 American Sunday, Oct. 10. Both games are scheduled for 1 p.m. starts.

Of your teammates, who is the most competitive?

Mary Nielsen (15 votes)

Devon Gagliardi (5 votes)

Tara Jennings (2 votes)

Who is the strongest in the weight room?

Sarah Schoffstall (23 votes)

Which teammate is the most likely to be a head coach in the future?

Stefanie Fee (12 votes)

Sarah Schoffstall (8 votes)

Molly Johnson (2 votes)

Who was in the best shape when school started?
Megan Deakins (12 votes)

Sarah Schoffstall (7 votes)

Who has the craziest pregame ritual?

Samantha Nelson (7 votes)

Abby Hassinger (5 votes)

Molly Johnson (2 votes)

Mary Nielsen (2 votes)

Which teammate has the strongest shot?

Caashia Karringten (15 votes)

Brenna Rescigno (7 votes)

Which teammate is the fastest?

Megan Deakins (10 votes)

Rhian Jones (5 votes)

Tara Jennings (4 votes)

Rhian Jones (4 votes)

Emmie Le Marchand (4 votes)

Who is the best dressed?

Grace Christus (6 votes)

Ashley Camano (5 votes)

Micaela Paterson (3 votes)

Mary Nielsen (2 votes)

Who is the team’s best singer?

Caashia Karringten (8 votes)

Emmie Le Marchand (5 votes)

Mary Nielsen (4 votes)

Which teammate shops the most?
Tara Jennings (23 votes)

Which teammate would love to be on a reality TV show?

Brenna Rescigno (10 votes)

Sarah Schoffstall (3 votes)

Chelsea Amsley (3 votes)

Who talks on the phone the most?

Susan Ferger (12 votes)

Devon Gagliardi (6 votes)

Rhian Jones (3 votes)

Which teammate studies the most?

Megan Deakins (18 votes)

Mia Wise (4 votes)

Which teammate is most likely to win “Jeopardy?”

Jordan Miller (10 votes)

Megan Deakins (5 votes)

Mia Wise (2 votes)

Molly Johnson (2 votes)

Who has the strongest accent (southern, foreign, etc.)?

Micaela Paterson (14 votes)

Emmie Le Marchand (7 votes)

Which teammate is the pickiest eater?

Paula Heimbach (16 votes)

Caashia Karringten (6 votes)

Which teammate sleeps the most?

Chelsea Amsley (15 votes)

Jordan Miller (4 votes)

Paula Heimbach (2 votes)

Who is the quietest?

McKay Ross (10 votes)

Paula Heimbach (10 votes)

If you were stranded on an island with one teammate, who would you want it to be?

Abby Hassinger (4 votes)

Mary Nielsen (3 votes)

Ashley Camano (2 votes)

Jordan Miller (2 votes)

McKay Ross (2 votes)

Stefanie Fee (2 votes)

Who has the biggest sweet tooth?

Paula Heimbach (23 votes)

Who spends the most time on Facebook/Myspace/Twitter?

McKay Ross (8 votes)

Brenna Rescigno (3 votes)

Paula Heimbach (2 votes)

Ashley Camano (2 votes)

Mary Nielsen (2 votes)

Who is the best dancer?

Stefanie Fee (10 votes)

Jordan Miller (6 votes)

Micaela Paterson (3 votes)

Who drinks the most coffee?

Ashley Camano (12 votes)

Stefanie Fee (5 votes)

Susan Ferger (3 votes)

Who is the slowest in the locker room and training room?

Chelsea Amsley (24 votes)

Who makes you laugh the most?

Jordan Miller (9 votes)

Rhian Jones (5 votes)

Abby Hassinger (2 votes)

Who is the best cook on the team?

Jordan Miller (19 votes)

Samantha Nelson (5 votes)

Who has the cleanest locker?

Brenna Rescigno (10 votes)

Paula Heimbach (10 votes)

Megan Deakins (3 votes)

Who smiles the most?

McKay Ross (12 votes)

Sarah Schoffstall (4 votes)

Susan Ferger (2 votes)

Abby Hassinger (2 votes)

Which teammate is the most inspiring?

Stefanie Fee (10 votes)

Sarah Schoffstall (5 votes)

Jordan Miller (3 votes)

Who is most likely to become the first female President?

Mia Wise (7 votes)

Samantha Nelson (5 votes)

Megan Deakins (3 votes)

Ashley Camano (3 votes)

Grace Christus Reviews Weekend Results

After two great games this past weekend, there are so many things that assure me that this season will be a great one. After a tactical and intense practice Friday afternoon, my teammates and I were ready for the weekend. Later that evening, we met as a team over some delicious snacks to talk about our goals for Saturday. We sat together and really shared our commitment to leaving everything on the field and having no regrets. That night I laid in my humble abode and confessed to my roommate, “I have a really good feeling about tomorrow.” Before I knew it, I was dining at the Devil’s Den with the team along with four recruits. We got to know them and them us over a hearty breakfast. Finally, 1 o’clock came. As we huddled up before the game, we all knew that it wasn’t about our opponent, where they were from or the color of their uniform, it was about us, about Duke Field Hockey. We battled relentlessly the whole game, connecting passes, out letting and transferring better than ever before. Although we came up short, it was a turning point in our season. It was a new standard for every member of our team and we all agreed that we would only go up from that level of play and continue to improve.

After the game was our tailgate, with delicious wings, pasta salad, fruit and a ton of other food. A significant group of our biggest fans, our parents of course, enjoyed the tailgate as well. We took our recruits to the ever so exciting football game that afternoon, where we watched Duke take on Army. The game was a great experience, we sat right behind the Duke bench so the fabulous seats didn’t hurt. After a long day in the hot Carolina sun, we dined at Elmo’s where I indulged in probably the best BLT I have had in North Carolina (obviously still not as good as the BLTs in New Jersey). The following day, we played Richmond and were victorious. We played well and we played together. We are determined to come out of next weekend’s games with two great wins, knowing that we must put in the work this week at practice.

Aside from field hockey, Duke has been everything I envisioned and more. I love the classes I am taking, a fair amount of reading, but managing my time well is the key and so far so good! I really enjoy my multimedia documentaries class, it focuses on photography and how images are used in projects like documentaries or simply to tell a story. It is a bonus that my roommate and two other field hockey freshmen happen to be in the class. Most of my meals are enjoyed at the Marketplace, which is the cafeteria for students on East Campus. It makes my day when I walk into the dining hall and see that pasta with a choice of red sauce or Alfredo sauce is being served. After dinner, I also enjoy some of their delicious blueberry pie al a mode. It is also very common for my roommate and I to order Jimmy Johns subs as a midnight snack, it makes the late night studying a little more enjoyable.

With the team looking better and growing everyday and school going great, my start here at Duke has been made of a lot of work but with truly unparalleled rewards. This coming weekend promises two great games and I can’t wait to be a part of it.

-Grace

Samantha Nelson Senior Profile

- What is the best thing about being a Duke field hockey player?
Samantha Nelson: Having our own facility. It’s one of the nicest things and very unique to our team. Sometimes I wish it was a little more accessible to the rest of the student body rather than just the freshmen, but I think it’s really nice to be able to have our own field.
- What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?

SN: Since rooming with my teammate Susan [Ferger], she is an ESPN Sportscenter guru, I really like watching football.

-What is your favorite sport to play other than field hockey?

SN: I really liked soccer when I was younger. I’ve been a single-sport athlete for a number of years now, but I definitely loved soccer.

-Do you have any pre-game superstitions?

SN: Not really. I usually try to take a moment to myself in the locker room just to pull my thoughts together. It’s always really loud and people are laughing and talking, music’s playing, but I think it’s important to have a moment to yourself to collect your thoughts and focus.

-What do you watch on TV?

SN: I guess True Blood is my new TV obsession right now. There’s not so much time for TV during the school year.

-What do you have on your iPod?

SN: My favorite song right now is Sweet Disposition by Temper Trap. I’m one of those people, who, when they like a song, just plays it over and over and over again for two weeks straight, which is another thing my roommate would tell you drives her crazy about me.

-What was your first job?

SN: I’ve coach field hockey before at Duke camps, but my first in-the-workforce job was this past summer. I worked for a lobbying firm in Washington D.C. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it.

-Who has had the biggest impact on your life?

SN: I’d have to say my family, specifically my brother. Anybody who’s not an only child can definitely say that their siblings have had a big impact on their life and how they grow up. My little brother, Taylor, we’re about four years apart, but we’ve gotten to an age where we can be friends.

-Who is the best cook in your family?

SN: Definitely my mom, and my teammates can all tell you this because she cooks for my team and for tailgates. That’s one of the things I missed most when I started college, home-cooked meals.

-What is your favorite home-cooked meal?

SN: My mom makes incredible lemon chicken.

-What is your favorite snack?

SN: I guess this is sort of because I’m in college and it’s really easy to eat, but whenever I’m hungry I always eat bananas with peanut butter.

-What has been your favorite class at Duke?

SN: I’ve had a couple, but this semester I’m taking American Business History, which is probably the most reading I’ve ever had to do for a history class. It’s really interesting. It’s one of those classes where it’s just like reading a story that is really dramatic and never-ending; I really enjoy it.

-What has been your toughest class at Duke?

SN: Last year I had an International Relations class where we had to write a 25-page research paper and that was my first big paper in college. That was definitely the most consecutive hours I’ve ever spent in the library the week that I had all my midterms and my research paper was due. It was a marathon.

-What will you miss most about the university after graduation?

SN: Everything. I really enjoy the lifestyle of just being a student. I love being able to go to class, meet friends for lunch, then going to practice. Just walking around the Duke campus and walking to class is a pleasure, so I guess I will also miss the scenery.

Mary Nielsen Recaps Weekend with Literary Review

The Duke field hockey team went 1-1 this past weekend, falling to No. 8 Wake Forest on sudden-victory penatly strokes before rebounding with a 2-1 overtime victory against No. 13 Drexel. Sophomore Mary Nielsen provides a literary review of the weekend's events.

Buried in my Latin textbook, my mind wandered whimsically - I contemplated key elements to this past weekend, DUFH's third week in season. The only idea milling about stood adamantly between my pen and the paper, its origins deep in ancient Rome; and so, with conviction, I clung to it, fighting not the air or art of inspiration as I shall share such with you now.

The phrase I had just translated "Pulchras est sevire" - to serve is beautiful. If I could find a word to supplement "each other" in Latin, I would place it into this sentence, but I don't yet know how to delicately weave together ripe observations of human nature like Ovid, so let's just assume it's in there.

As much of a tragedy Saturday's game was, it was a beautiful tragedy. As Jack says, "collegiate athletes of today are the poet warriors of the past;" I dare someone to disagree. Pouring down rain, knees bleeding, wrists practically broken, emotions effusively pulsing through our veins - how could it not be romantic? And with such verve and ardent energy, how could we not get something out of it, in slight, a realization?

A game of attrition, we played on and on at Wake. From Chels' diving goal with twenty seconds left to tie the game up, to a moment of pure agony within the last minute of double overtime, when I was blasphemously crushed upon the turf, by not only a defender's entire body mass but her goalie's, as well. This action was of course by the opposing team, so it felt even worse than you could somewhat relate to. I only took a small amount of the Blue Devils' beatings, however. Young Megan had a near fractured wrist, Miss Stefanie had fallen after the game with calf cramps, and dear Rhian of Philadelphia had more bruises on her legs and gluteus maximus than a red head has freckles. And yet the game went forth, from strokes to sudden death strokes.

Wet with defeat, we were forced to accept the outcome - a loss, our first ever, in strokes. It became a part of who we were, though it did not define who we will become, who we have become. Jarred spoke to us all in our final huddle at Wake, about how well we had worked together: "You win as a team, and you die as a team," he had said.

With a new day was a new life, and we were ready to rise from the ashes, giving the Drexel Dragons more than they could ever hope to face. Our first home game was fueled with a parent/team breakfast at the Devil's Den where in good company we prepared for our last battle of the weekend. One word was on our mind, regardless how and what we would do to get there: win. Despite another overtime encounter we emerged victorious, and rightfully so.

The parents' support could only be rivaled by the columns of the parthenon - with grace, beauty and standing, without question, through all weather. With the parents' presence came that of food, which was provided, and deliciously devoured by hungry members of the DUFH community. With another weekend gone comes another week's preparation. And the words of the wise will not be forgotten - to serve is a beautiful thing, not only serving to each other but for each other. I digress.

- Mary

Freshman Ashley Camano Discusses Transition to Duke

The Blue Devils moved to 3-1 on the year after sweeping Longwood and No. 12 James Madison this past weekend. Duke opens ACC play Saturday, September 11 at No. 8 Wake Forest. A month into her collegiate career, freshman Ashley Camano discusses her transition to life at Duke University.

On August 10, 2010, I finally set foot into my dorm room at Duke University. This event would be exciting under any circumstances at any college for any student, but for me and the seven other freshmen field hockey players, this meant so much more than just a new bed to lie in at night. This meant the start of our careers on the Duke University field hockey team, a trip down a thrilling road, something that few people can partake in.

After a full day comparable to Christmas morning, receiving a full new wardrobe of Duke field hockey attire and accessories, it was time to get to work. The sole thing I could think about as I lay in bed that night was the inception of preseason – a double session of ROTC training with Colonel Mark Tribus. I had heard rumblings of the sort of drills we would be partaking in during our time with Colonel Tribus and I’d trained all summer for preseason, but didn’t know what I could possibly be getting myself into during the next few weeks.

Despite a physically and mentally exhausting time with Colonel Tribus, I realized that the ROTC training could not have come at a better time than it did. As the first day of preseason wound down and I sorely laid in my unfamiliar bed again on that following night, I realized that the team I worked with could very well, and already began to on that stifling hot day, become a family away from home to me.

Preseason continued and eventually the double session days became single session days (of course after experiencing our first away match in a scrimmage against Wake Forest and our first home scrimmage against North Carolina), and soon enough, there was nothing on my mind but our first weekend of real game play - the trip to Michigan to play Louisville and Michigan State. Every week there’s something else to look forward to and I can’t wait to experience all of these exciting events.

After nearly a month now, I can feel myself already making incredible new friends in my fellow teammates and I truly believe I’m learning something new and worthwhile everyday. Whether it be learning a new skill from the coaching staff, hearing a humorous story in the locker room before practice about someone’s mishaps during the day, or learning that I can always count on Susan Ferger to listen to pump-up country music with me before a game, I know that Duke is where I want to be, and where I’m meant to be.

Although being nearly eight hours from home posed a frightening hurdle, I have found myself too busy, too energized, and too excited to be homesick (sorry, Mom and Dad). Though at times grueling and daunting, looking down at my jersey and seeing the letters D-U-K-E screened across it during practice make all the sweat and bruises worthwhile – Duke field hockey is a team of ‘we not me,’ and the drive from my fellow teammates is enough to push me much further than I could ever imagine.

- Ashley

Susan Ferger Recaps Duke's Opening Weekend

Senior Susan Ferger recaps Duke’s season-opening weekend at the Champions Challenge in East Lansing, Mich.

After an intense preseason filled with ROTC, team bonding and scrimmages, it was finally time for our first weekend of games. We flew up to Detroit on Thursday evening, met our bus driver and headed to East Lansing. We ate dinner at an Olive Garden along the way, where we celebrated Rhian Jones’ 20th birthday. The entire restaurant sang to her, and the team got to enjoy the cake they provided. After a day of travel, everyone was tired and grateful for time to sleep in on Friday.

Friday began with a fantastic team breakfast. We traveled over to the field for practice and spent some time going over our strategy for the game. After practice we had time to explore the campus of Michigan State and see what it had to offer. We all enjoyed the down time before heading to our next meal. For dinner, we were lucky enough to go to one of my favorite restaurants in the world! The Italian restaurant, Bravo! originally from Columbus, Ohio has been one of my favorite places to eat since I can remember. Needless to say, the food was delicious and we were fueled and ready for our opening game.

Saturday’s game was an exciting battle back and forth. Though it took two overtimes, we finally won the game - starting our season off right. It took awhile to come down from the excitement of the game, many of us headed to the pool to soak our bodies and start the rejuvenation process. Saturday night, we went to a cute restaurant that used to be a train station. I had one of my favorite meals, a turkey sandwich, and enjoyed the historical atmosphere. There was a train car out front where we posed for some photos before heading back to the hotel for a good night of rest.

Sunday wasn’t our day, and after a hard fought game, we ended with a 1-0 loss. We were able to generate a lot of attack but we just couldn’t finish. The good news is that it is the first weekend, so we can fix things now and be ready for the rest of the season. After the game it was time to head back to Durham, though it seemed no one else wanted us to get home. Our flight was delayed for three hours, but luckily Detroit is a nice airport, and surprisingly full of celebrities. On our way there, we spotted Anna Paquin of True Blood, and on our way home we saw actress Hayden Panettiere and golfer Tom Watson.

The weekend might not have been perfect, but it was successful in the sense that we know what we need to work on and we can fix what needs to be fixed before our next game. It was a fun first away trip with all of our new teammates, and I am excited with what’s to come this season.

- Susan

Megan Deakins Reports from Italy

Ciao!

One hour into the first day of my four-week trip to Italy through the Duke Study Abroad Program, after enjoying a pistachio and chocolate gelato at nine o'clock in the morning, I knew that I was destined to love Italy. Little did I know that the four weeks ahead of me would provide so much more than delicious gelato, as I would have the opportunity to explore Rome, Florence, Siena, Cortina and the Pyrenees Mountains - enabling me to experience diverse aspects of Italian culture, art and cuisine.

The Duke Study Abroad Program was based in Venice, on the small island of San Servolo, just a vaporetto or water taxi away from the heart of Venice. The first few days were devoted to getting to know the city, which mostly involved, actually in an enjoyable way, getting lost. Venice is an endless network of side streets, bridges, and canals, many of which do not appear on a map and culminate as a dead end. Although the streets may not actually lead anywhere, there are pizzerias about every five meters, so it is impossible to get frustrated.

After finding my bearings in the city, I began to experience more of the arts and culture of Venice. One of my favorite nights in Venice included attending an opera at the famous theater La Fenice with some of my classmates. We left the opera and traversed back through the flooded St. Mark's Square. Fueled by gelato and the orchestral music of live groups performing at restaurants, wading back through the square was a fun adventure. On one of our final nights in Venice, our class attended an orchestra featuring works by Italian composer Vivaldi. I discovered a newfound love for classical music and hope to learn how to play the piano or pick up the violin again.

After traveling solely on a vaporetti of Venice, it was strange to return to the bustle of cars and the luxury of the sidewalk in Rome. While I was unable to meet up with Rhian in Rome, she gave me a list of sites to see and a well-researched synopsis on local gelaterias. The two highlights of my trip to Rome were unquestionably the Coliseum and the Vatican. We climbed, and even counted, all 445 stairs to the top of St. Peter's Basilica to enjoy a view of all of Rome.

As an avid runner and adventure enthusiast, I was able to find a nice balance in Italy of appreciating the arts and music while still catering to my thirst for adventure. One weekend I traveled to Cortina, a small town in the Alps on the border of Austria to run an 11.5 km race. Between running among fields of wild flowers, through mountain passes, and past turquoise lakes, I almost forgot that I was actually in a race. I also traveled to Catalonia, Spain for five days to bike in the Pyrenees Mountains. With high elevations and intense climbs, it was a challenging, but very enjoyable trip.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to travel to Italy on a Duke program. Professor Rogerson, the Duke director and teacher who traveled with our group, played an integral role in the trip - serving as a guide, a teacher, a travel agent, a friend, and even a chef, his hard work enabled a memorable experience for us all. While I learned so much about Italian culture, I also learned how much I appreciate my friends, family, and teammates back at home. I can't wait to come back to Duke and share my experiences, photos, and maybe even some Italian chocolate with my teammates!

Spring Season Update

Megan Deakins checks in with an update on spring scrimmages...

Hello Duke Fans! After a fabulous week of spring break complete with vacations, excursions and adventures, both here and abroad, our spring tournament season officially began. All winter and spring we have been developing various aspects of our team culture and outlook through community service activities, ROTC workouts and life group sessions. Although it is natural for me to be a bit biased, I strongly believe that we are currently the most formidable field hockey team, physically and mentally that Duke has ever produced....

Read the rest at goduke.com

Spring Schedule

The Blue Devils will soon be back on the turf to begin spring play.

Below is Duke's spring schedule

March 20 Duke Spring Tournament All Day

March 27 @ North Carolina Spring Tournament All Day

April 10 @ Old Dominion Spring Tournament All Day

April 17 Duke Tournament All Day

April 18 Duke Alumnae Game 11 a.m.

More information on the tournaments is available here.

Blue Devils Work With Army ROTC

Jordan Miller describes a new kind of workout and training for the upcoming season.

Last Monday marked the beginning of turf practices at Jack Katz Stadium, and let me tell you folks, it feels great to stretch my legs. After months of treadmills and stuffy gymnasiums, the team was raring to go, even if it was only 8 AM. False claims of rustiness were nowhere to be found; we had an amazingly fluid and intense practice. But then again, practice didn't seem daunting at all after surviving last week's workouts...

Read the rest at goduke.com

Snow Day All So Familiar For Nielsen

Mary Nielsen took some time to recap a rare snow day at Duke.

As one of the only permanent residents from that gentle Great White North, it was of calming familiarization to peek out of my dorm window and see a flurry of white, delicate flakes falling outside. The first snow fall of the semester, the first time I’d ever seen a winter wonderland in North Carolina, it was blissfully relaxing to experience something I never thought I’d miss as much as I did. From the periwinkle skies to the bright-white banks, last Sunday lay as one of the most breathtaking afternoons I’ve encountered here at Duke and I had to seize such an opportunity.

Abby [Hassinger], Micaela [Paterson] and I took advantage of such glorious weather, sledding around east campus and deciding to roll into the untouched charters of our field hockey pitch. Because the snow was somewhat icy on the surface, we were able to play what we soon called “snow hockey” and passed the ball around, listening to Michael Jackson and dancing like idiots. Then we got an awesome idea to make the “DUFH” symbol in the snow; after a few minutes of hard manual labour, we went up to the top of the Jack [Katz Stadium] stands to review our masterpiece. To top off the afternoon in the snow, we decided to make a snow Dufher - set with a stick and Duke Field hockey pinnie.

Unfortunately the snow melted the next day, and as we returned to the field there were only exhausted remnants of our snow-woman-field-hockey-superstar. This semester will be an exciting one, as we are all very excited to get back into the swing of hockey, but as for now...the snow was a wonderful reminder of home.

- Mary

Offseason Update With Nelson

Junior goalie Samantha Nelson caught up with goduke.com on winter practice and the field hockey offseason

All in all, Duke Field Hockey is very happy to be back in action. I especially like the off season because the team always becomes closer, and I am able to get to know each individual better. I think all fall sports have to deal with being thrown together in a two week preseason, and they have to learn how to play together throughout the fall while dealing with high pressure situations. The spring is a chance for us to improve our team chemistry and become more integrated than ever....

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