DURHAM, N.C. – Duke women’s soccer junior Mia Minestrella is making headlines. After scoring her second hat trick in NCAA Tournament history, she earned the title of TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week.
Minestrella, from Redondo Beach, California, showcased her skills by netting all three goals against Elon in just the first 48 minutes of play. Her strikes came at the 11th, 23rd, and 48th minutes, with two of them from corner kicks. This performance is part of a remarkable trend, as she has scored seven goals in NCAA Tournament first-round matches over the past two years. In fact, she holds a record for scoring four goals in a single game against Howard in 2024.
With 15 goals this season, Minestrella ranks second in the ACC and 12th nationwide. Her five game-winning goals are also tied for second in the league. In Duke’s record books, she’s tied for sixth for single-season goals and tied for ninth in total points with 34. Over her career, she’s played in six NCAA Tournament games and is second all-time at Duke with 19 points and tied for fourth with seven goals.
Adding to the team’s success, redshirt junior Kat Rader had two assists against Elon. She now boasts 10 goals and 10 assists this season, joining an elite group of Blue Devils who have achieved double digits in both categories. Other notable players who’ve done this include Michelle Cooper from 2022 and Imani Dorsey from 2017.
Duke will face UCF on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 PM in the NCAA Tournament second round. You can catch the match live on ESPN+.
This young team is drawing attention not just for their talent but for their chemistry on the field. The Blue Devils are poised for more growth, standing as a solid contender in college soccer. As fans rally on social media, their energetic support is helping shape the atmosphere of this thrilling season.
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