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Photo by: Duke Sports Information
Women's Soccer Recruit Spotlight: Michelle Cooper
12/16/2020 2:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C.— Head coach Robbie Church and the Duke women's soccer staff signed four student-athletes in November in the early signing period that will don the Blue Devil uniform starting in August of 2021. Â
GoDuke.com will get to know the future Blue Devils over the next couple of months. Â
The first spotlight is Michelle Cooper, who is a 5-3 forward from Clarkston, Mich., and attends IMG Academy. A fixture on the U.S. National Teams since 2016, Cooper most recently traveled to La Manga, Spain with the U-19 National Team. She is listed No. 18 in the class of 2021 by TopDrawerSoccer and the No. 5 forward in the 2021 class. Cooper collected 40 goals over the last two seasons with IMG Academy. Â
#GoDuke
GoDuke.com: What made you choose Duke?
Michelle Cooper: I chose Duke University because it has everything I need to succeed on and off the field. The academics are astonishing and the soccer program is a perfect fit for me! The environment on campus is like no other!
GD: Tell us a about your soccer game and what you hope to bring to Duke?
MC: I consider myself very dynamic and versatile player up top. My athleticism has helped me thrive at all levels of the game. By bringing these strengths, I strive to become a reliable asset for Duke women's soccer family!
GD: Favorite NWSL Player?
MC: Julie Ertz
GD: Most excited for at Duke (soccer and not soccer)?
MC: When I am not playing soccer, I am most excited for meeting new people and having new adventures. When I am playing soccer, I'm excited to grow as a player and person with new teammates in a new environment.
GD: What is a fun fact/skill/talent people may not know about you?
MC:Â A fun fact about me is that I have been to seven different countries by the time I was 16.
GD: Who are your biggest inspirations on and off the pitch?
MC: On and off the pitch, my biggest inspirations are my mom and sister. Day-to-day they inspire me to be a great person, student and athlete.
GD: What is your proudest moment on the soccer field so far?
MC: My proudest moment on the field is when I traveled to the Delle Nazioni Tournament in Gradisca, Italy in 2018. I started against China in the finals and scored the first goal of the match.
GD: What age did you start playing soccer?
MC: I started playing soccer at the age of 4.
GD: Did you play other sports growing up?
MC: I also played basketball and track throughout middle school.
Quick Hitters:
Favorite Athlete: Julie Ertz
Hobbies: Discovering new types of music
Favorite TV Show: Vampire Diaries
Favorite Movie: Divergent
Latest show you watched on television/Netflix? Outer Banks
If you were to play another sport, what would it be? I would either run track or play basketball.
Mountains or Beach: Mountains
Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream: Soft serve vanilla with M&M's
Any Pregame Rituals? Before I arrive at the locker room I shower and braid my hair. I also put my left shoe on and tie it before I put my right shoe on and tie it.
Â
GoDuke.com will get to know the future Blue Devils over the next couple of months. Â
The first spotlight is Michelle Cooper, who is a 5-3 forward from Clarkston, Mich., and attends IMG Academy. A fixture on the U.S. National Teams since 2016, Cooper most recently traveled to La Manga, Spain with the U-19 National Team. She is listed No. 18 in the class of 2021 by TopDrawerSoccer and the No. 5 forward in the 2021 class. Cooper collected 40 goals over the last two seasons with IMG Academy. Â
#GoDuke
GoDuke.com: What made you choose Duke?
Michelle Cooper: I chose Duke University because it has everything I need to succeed on and off the field. The academics are astonishing and the soccer program is a perfect fit for me! The environment on campus is like no other!
GD: Tell us a about your soccer game and what you hope to bring to Duke?
MC: I consider myself very dynamic and versatile player up top. My athleticism has helped me thrive at all levels of the game. By bringing these strengths, I strive to become a reliable asset for Duke women's soccer family!
GD: Favorite NWSL Player?
MC: Julie Ertz
GD: Most excited for at Duke (soccer and not soccer)?
MC: When I am not playing soccer, I am most excited for meeting new people and having new adventures. When I am playing soccer, I'm excited to grow as a player and person with new teammates in a new environment.
GD: What is a fun fact/skill/talent people may not know about you?
MC:Â A fun fact about me is that I have been to seven different countries by the time I was 16.
GD: Who are your biggest inspirations on and off the pitch?
MC: On and off the pitch, my biggest inspirations are my mom and sister. Day-to-day they inspire me to be a great person, student and athlete.
GD: What is your proudest moment on the soccer field so far?
MC: My proudest moment on the field is when I traveled to the Delle Nazioni Tournament in Gradisca, Italy in 2018. I started against China in the finals and scored the first goal of the match.
GD: What age did you start playing soccer?
MC: I started playing soccer at the age of 4.
GD: Did you play other sports growing up?
MC: I also played basketball and track throughout middle school.
Quick Hitters:
Favorite Athlete: Julie Ertz
Hobbies: Discovering new types of music
Favorite TV Show: Vampire Diaries
Favorite Movie: Divergent
Latest show you watched on television/Netflix? Outer Banks
If you were to play another sport, what would it be? I would either run track or play basketball.
Mountains or Beach: Mountains
Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream: Soft serve vanilla with M&M's
Any Pregame Rituals? Before I arrive at the locker room I shower and braid my hair. I also put my left shoe on and tie it before I put my right shoe on and tie it.
Â
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