Bill Hempen attributes last season’s 10-10-3 record to “bad luck,” but the Duke coach’s luck in the win-loss column has swung in the other direction this year. At least so far. The Blue Devils clawed and scratched to a 4-0-0 start despite injuries to starters Kari Juncker, Liz Speights and, most recently, Kim Daws. Along the way, Duke dumped Clemson from its No. 8 spot in the Soccer America Top 20 after a 3-0 win over the Tigers in South Carolina. All three injured starters ù Juncker, a senior midfielder, and Speights, a sophomore defender, who got hurt in the preseason, and Daws, a sophomore midfielder who injured her knee against Central Florida Sept. 1 ù suffered torn ACLs in their knees and are likely out for the season. A minor injury to freshman Stefanie Kraay, hurt since the third day of practice, further depletes the backline. “Under the circumstances and the kind of opposition that Clemson is, it was outstanding for our kids,” Hempen said of the win. “Clemson is a very good team. The players we have left played very well.” Hempen only used 12 players in the game. The only substitute was in goal, where junior Dana Piper splits time with freshman Isis Dallis, so the field players had no respite. The play of versatile senior Andi Melde (4 assists) and sophomore striker Emily Feeney (7 goals, 1 assist) and a reshuffled lineup have kept the Blue Devils afloat. Reserve Amanda Remy has become a starting defender and freshman Snow Brenner has played increasing minutes. Freshman Sue Kraeger has one start in midfield. Against Clemson, Melde started in midfield, moved to the back and then moved up front, from where she set up teammate Kristy Whelchel for the second goal. “The adjustments are daily,” Hempen said. “They haven’t been complete yet. We knew coming in [to the season] we would be without KJ and Liz. But when Kimmy went down, that really hurt us. We weren’t prepared for the latest one.” Assistant coach Carla Overbeck, the U.S. women’s national team captain, had a baby in mid-August but has been able to join the players in practice. “The training sessions are interesting,” Hempen said.
Notre Dame ends Portland streaks
In the best matchup of the early season, Notre Dame shut out Portland 1-0 before a sellout crowd of 5,041 at Portland’s Merlo Field. Jenny Streiffer’s cross from the left flank reached Monica Gerardo on the far post. The junior forward’s header found the upper right corner of the net. The loss snaps Portland’s 25-game home unbeaten streak and 42-game regular season unbeaten streak. In the biggest upset of the season, Connecticut blew a 2-0 halftime lead at home and lost 3-2 to upstart Hartford in the UConn/Umbro Classic. UConn still won its tournament, and Huskies transfer Carmie Landeen, who scored the Huskies’ goals against Hartford, was named the Most Outstanding Player.