[DUKE WOMEN] Duke has signed nine players, including three players who were Gatorade State Players of the Year as juniors – Kaitlyn Kerr (Pennsylvania), Mollie Pathman (North Carolina) and Laura Weinberg (Florida) -- and Texan Natasha Anasi, who is one of the top athletes in this year's freshman class.
 
“We’re very excited about the class,” said Blue Devil coach Robbie Church.  “The group covers everything that we’re looking for."
 
Gilda Doria of West Palm Beach, Fla., Avery Rape of Dallas, Alex Straton of Oakton, Va., Meghan Thomas of Castle Rock, Colo., and Katie Walter of Chapel Hill, N.C., will also attend Duke in the fall.
 
“This is a very diverse class in the sense that they cover all our positions -- we bring in a goalkeeper, we bring in some back players, we bring in midfielders, we bring in some forwards,” commented Church.  “We’re excited about their ability, and what they bring to our team. There’s something unique about each and every one of these players, and we feel like they’ll fit very, very well into our system of play.”

The Blue Devils will also welcome back redshirt sophomore Ashley Rape, redshirt freshman Callie Simpkins, redshirt freshman Kim DeCesare and senior Molly Lester, who all missed the 2009 campaign due to injuries.