A kick for Duke A kick for Duke (August 12, 2005)

Former St. Francis soccer phenom taking the Blue Devils by storm

By Scott Campbell

Lauren Tippets always knew a few words of encouragement would come from her father every time she set foot on the soccer field.

"Lauren, show no mercy," Layne Tippets would tell his daughter, the former St. Francis soccer standout. And she wouldn't.

Tippets' determination to excel helped lead St. Francis to two Central Coast Section championships and earned her CCS Player of the Year honors in 2002.

Even now, as an integral part of Duke University's women's soccer program, Lauren, 20, occasionally still hears that familiar saying from her father in a pre-game phone conversation. Those four simple words keep her mindful of the focus that has helped her attain success at each level of the game.

"I like to attack," said Tippets, who has scored 8 goals and recorded 10 assists in two seasons at Duke. "I just go out there and go at 'em, I guess. That's how I play."

Lauren's father remembers his daughter showing the drive to improve from the time she took up soccer at age five.

"She started asking me to go to the park with her almost every night," recalled Layne, who helped young Lauren with technical and mental aspects of the game. "She just had a real determination to play and get better. It was like she couldn't play enough."

Lauren's transition from St. Francis to Division I soccer in one of the sport's hotbed states was nearly seamless.

Ever the competitor, Tippets relished the opportunity to play against vaunted opponents, such as archrival and 18-time national-champion North Carolina. As a freshman in 2003, Tippets ranked second on the Blue Devils with 15 points.

Battling plantar fasciitis in both feet led to a frustrating 2004 season, but Tippets nevertheless notched two goals and seven assists as Duke advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament and finished ranked No. 15 by Soccer Buzz.

After losing 2004 All-America Casey McCluskey to graduation, Blue Devils head coach Robbie Church expects Tippets to play an increased role this season.

"Lauren's going to be a big player in our program," said Church, whose junior- and senior-laden team begins the 2005 campaign ranked No. 9 by Soccer Buzz. "We're looking for her to provide some of the scoring slack."

Tippets' success in Durham, N.C. has not been limited to the playing field. As a math major who is also studying pre-med, she received Dean's List honors last June.

"I worked really hard last semester, especially in the library, so I was really excited about that," said Tippets. "I don't go out that much, maybe once a week. It's a balance between soccer and academics."

Her coach takes particular pride in seeing one of his athletes master that juggling act.

"She's done a phenomenal job both on the field and off," said Church of his center midfielder. "She's an exemplary student-athlete. We're fortunate to have her and we're looking forward to two [more] great years from her."

Before returning to Duke for pre-season training last weekend, Tippets enjoyed spending the summer at her family's Los Altos home. Compared to the intense, pressure-cooker environment that surrounds her in Durham, Tippets welcomed the familiar California surroundings.

"It's nice," said Tippets, who enjoyed scrap-booking, trail-running and biking during her down time. "It's a completely different world. It's a lot more carefree and relaxing. I'm still a West Coast girl, definitely," she added laughing.

Atop the list of her favorite memories of playing out West are winning the 2004 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship with the Pleasanton Rage U-19 club team and ending her St. Francis career with a CCS title in 2002.

"We were the underdog and we ended up winning 3-0," recalled Tippets of her final high-school game, in which she scored the first two goals as the Lancers dethroned two-time defending-champion Santa Teresa. "That was a pretty sweet victory."

And now, nearly 3,000 miles away, Tippets has found new happiness, both on the soccer field and off. With eight fellow juniors on the Duke roster, Tippets has developed a close bond with her teammates and looks forward to sharing an apartment with them this year.

As for her aspirations with two seasons remaining at Duke, Tippets said, "I'd like to make it to the Final Four, if not win a championship."

Almost as soon as that was out of her mouth, Tippets followed up with what any Blue Devil most yearns for.

"And I'd like to beat North Carolina before I leave," said Tippets.

E-mail Scott Campbell at sports@mv-voice.com

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