Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus Wake Forest on August 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
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7:30 p.m.
Women's Soccer
vs Wake Forest
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Photo by: Duke Athletics
Mia Oliaro: A Special Group Ready for the Challenge
7/28/2026 3:54:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. -- There is a specific kind of energy that comes with the start of each season -- an excitement and hunger. With the start of this 2026 season, I have felt that more than ever.
With the NCAA changing the length of the season and allowing us to have a longer preseason, our team reported back to Durham during the second week of July. We hit the ground running and have been waking up at 5 a.m. for morning training ever since. We have been in our 10-hour training block and have been soaking up every minute, both on the field and in the weight room.
Our training sessions so far have been short and sharp, as we bring our best every day and pushing each other to strive for excellence. We are eager to transition into 20-hour weeks soon and have the chance to spend even more time working together and developing as a team.
This team is special. We have returners who have been living the standards for years and newcomers who have fully embraced them, which is an elite combination. We were lucky enough to have added five new players, two transfers and three freshmen, who joined us in January. Being able to connect with them both on and off the field throughout the spring was so valuable for everyone.
Helping them understand our team standards, getting training reps in at practice and embracing them as part of our Duke family over the past seven months has made a huge impact on our team. We were also super excited to welcome Yuna Marui to our team this summer as well, and she has been an awesome addition.
Throughout the past two weeks, despite being limited to 10 hours with our coaches, we have spent countless hours off the field together, which is equally valuable. Between team meals, ice cream trips, movie nights and many more activities, it has been great to be back together again, and I feel lucky to call this team my family.
As this is my senior year, this preseason has made me appreciate every walk out to 751 just a little bit more, and I am grateful for every passing moment with this team. I know this is a special group. We are eager to learn, hungry to compete and ready for any challenge that comes our way. I am excited to see where we will go this season.
Go Duke!
Mia Oliaro
With the NCAA changing the length of the season and allowing us to have a longer preseason, our team reported back to Durham during the second week of July. We hit the ground running and have been waking up at 5 a.m. for morning training ever since. We have been in our 10-hour training block and have been soaking up every minute, both on the field and in the weight room.
Our training sessions so far have been short and sharp, as we bring our best every day and pushing each other to strive for excellence. We are eager to transition into 20-hour weeks soon and have the chance to spend even more time working together and developing as a team.
This team is special. We have returners who have been living the standards for years and newcomers who have fully embraced them, which is an elite combination. We were lucky enough to have added five new players, two transfers and three freshmen, who joined us in January. Being able to connect with them both on and off the field throughout the spring was so valuable for everyone.
Helping them understand our team standards, getting training reps in at practice and embracing them as part of our Duke family over the past seven months has made a huge impact on our team. We were also super excited to welcome Yuna Marui to our team this summer as well, and she has been an awesome addition.
Throughout the past two weeks, despite being limited to 10 hours with our coaches, we have spent countless hours off the field together, which is equally valuable. Between team meals, ice cream trips, movie nights and many more activities, it has been great to be back together again, and I feel lucky to call this team my family.
As this is my senior year, this preseason has made me appreciate every walk out to 751 just a little bit more, and I am grateful for every passing moment with this team. I know this is a special group. We are eager to learn, hungry to compete and ready for any challenge that comes our way. I am excited to see where we will go this season.
Go Duke!
Mia Oliaro
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's SoccerSaturday, December 06
Saturday, November 29
Monday, November 24
Saturday, November 15
