DURHAM, N.C.--
As she moves ahead in her fourth and final season at Duke, Taylor Mitchell has a lot to look back on. A consistent starter since she arrived, the defender came in her freshman year with more than enough skill to be competitive at the collegiate level. In fact, she was part of the Blue Devils' NCAA College Cup squad mere months after arriving at Duke. Three years later, she continues to compete at a very high level, but feels a change in how she views the game."Freshman year, I came into each game hoping I didn't mess up. But in my sophomore, junior, and senior years, I come on the field thinking, 'What can I do to make a difference in the game?' as opposed to 'What am I gonna do that's gonna mess up the game?' Coming into each game with that mindset has increased my technical ability, my tactical ability, and my physical ability. I feel like mindset is everything in terms of bettering my play."
During her first year at Duke, Mitchell played alongside senior Schuyler DeBree, who showed her the ropes and helped inspire how she plays the game today.
"She seemed so strong and sure of herself," said Mitchell. "Being a senior now, I really want to have that same effect on other freshman defenders in terms of being a role model and a stable and consistent force, and show them what it means to compete and win championships."
Mitchell has clearly filled DeBree's shoes exceptionally well; the defensive line relies on her experience and skill in every game. A product of Tarzana, Calif., Mitchell has started 75-of-78 matches over the last four years and has seen action in nearly 7,000 minutes.
Fellow senior defender Caitlin Cosme speaks highly of her teammate and recognizes Mitchell's important contributions to the program, further proving her success in stepping into DeBree's role.
"Taylor Mitchell has been my role model for the past four years," commented Cosme. "She is not only our best defender, but the most solid and consistent player on the field. Her work often goes unnoticed, but I have never played next to someone who I trust more. She gets the job done no matter what and is our rock in the back line."
A force to be reckoned with both on and off the field, Mitchell's drive and leadership also carry over into her studies.
"She's done an unbelievable job in the classroom and she's been a role model for younger players that come into our program," says head coach Robbie Church.
Mitchell came to Duke with more than just soccer aspirations - she has dreamed of going into medicine for as long as she can remember. She has worked hard to keep her academic performance as impressive as her soccer performance and attributes her success to the team culture.
"What Robbie prides our program on the most is that we are students and athletes, we are not just athletes," said Mitchell. "The coaching staff and our team as a whole prides ourselves on being able to do both. Being in that environment makes everyone on the team want to achieve more."
While many might consider collegiate athletics something that distracts from academics, Mitchell proves that you can be incredibly successful in both arenas. In fact, she believes her time on the field has helped keep her focused in the classroom.
"Soccer helped me in my academics in terms of not being lazy in my work," added Mitchell. "I had to be on top of everything."
Certainly, lazy is the last word one would use to describe Mitchell. Alongside four seasons of holding down the defensive line for the Blue Devils, Mitchell has juggled a double major and pre-med requirements. Following a year of research, she plans to continue her studies at medical school. Mitchell is ready to take on the world after a college career defined by hard work on the field and in the classroom and clearly has what it takes to thrive wherever she ends up. In the meantime, she will finish out her senior season with the Blue Devils by continuing to lead them from the back line with her steady presence and skill.
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November 06, 2020 at 07:31PM
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Taylor Mitchell: Four Years Strong - Duke University - GoDuke.com
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