DURHAM, N.C.— Duke sophomore Casey Martinez stopped by recently to talk with GoDuke.com about the exciting run in 2015 for the Blue Devils along with many other topics.  A native of Towson, Md., Martinez started four of the six NCAA Tournament matches a year ago and assisted in four straight contests during the postseason run.  She played in 24 matches on the year and finished with two goals and four assists on the season.  

GoDuke.com:  Looking back at this past season, how much fun did you and the team have making the run to the national championship match?  

Casey Martinez:  Oh my gosh, it was so amazing. It was hands down the best experience that I've had so far at Duke. It was just so exciting and it got increasingly exciting as we continued to win and move on. It was great because each game we didn't have anything to lose, we just left it all out on the field. We just wanted to stay together just one more week, one more game. We wanted to make it to the last possible second so that we could all still be together and that was our main goal each night and each time we stepped on the field. It was pretty amazing that we actually got to live that through. We wish that the ending could've been a little bit different, but overall it was such an awesome experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

GD:  During the NCAA Tournament, you played a big role starting four of the six matches and assisting on goals in four straight contests.  What was that like?

CM: It was just such an honor to have the opportunity to step up for my team. I had been working towards that all season and I knew that when I got my opportunity I was going to be ready based on the time I was putting in in practice and outside of practice trying to keep up with my fitness and my skills so that I was ready if that time ever did come. God was good enough to give me that opportunity and it was such an amazing opportunity. I love being on my team either way, but to be on the field and experiencing it from that perspective was very different than what I was used to and I'm really grateful for that.

GD: How has the spring campaign been for the team?

CM:  It has been great. It's definitely hard to come off such an amazing season but such a heartbreaking end. We just all went our separate ways unfortunately after that game as it was finals week and we all had a thousand different things to do. Then, all of a sudden, the seniors for the most part aren't participating with the team and that was hard, realizing it was over and just trying to look forward to a brand new season and a new start. I think once we realized that, we rolled with it. Our training sessions have been amazing. Our work rate has been very high and productive and I think we are looking towards a great season coming up.

GD:  Are there certain things with your game you have been trying to work on?

CM:  I've been trying to work on different set plays as that has become an increasing role for me on the team. Also, I'm just always trying to get better at my strengths and my weaknesses, so crossing and finishing is always a big part of what I try to do, so I've been putting a lot of time in with that. I'm just trying to play quicker and play at an even higher level every time I step on the field so when game time comes, I'm ready for the fast pace and even more prepared so I'm playing faster than the pace that the game is going, so then I'm over-prepared if anything.

GD: How excited are you about the upcoming China trip in June?

CM: I am so unbelievably excited for the trip! We just had our meeting recently and it sounds amazing. The opportunity that we have to go to a foreign country altogether as a team, have team bonding, and have new experiences is amazing.

GD:  Have you ever traveled out of the country?

CM:  I haven't had the opportunity to travel abroad much. I've only been to England, which is obviously very different from America, but it's definitely not Asia. So, I'm super excited to just have that experience and to just have a blast with the team and learn new things.

GD:  What other plans do you have for the summer?

CM: I'm going to be at home over the summer and it will probably be the last summer that I will be able to be home for an extended period of time. I'll be playing with the Washington Spirit Reserves as much as possible along with a bunch of other teammates who will be in Washington for internships. I'll hopefully be a nanny for some time and train kids on my own. I'll be taking a summer class, Physics, for the second half of the summer back home and it'll be good to get that requirement out of the way.

GD:  Have you decided on what you are going to major in yet?

CM:  I've declared a biology major and I will probably stick with that and I'm trying to knock out as many pre-med requirements as possible. I would love to play professional soccer and then I will have to do a couple gap years to work to finish up pre-med requirements and then hopefully apply to medical school.

GD: How did adding Erwin van Bennekom as an assistant coach impact this team last year?

CM: He has had a tremendous impact on our team. I absolutely love Erwin as an assistant coach and I think he has brought so much to our program and amplified the greatness that was already there. I think he, as well as the revamp from the old style of thinking are just unbelievable. Seeing the changes from my freshman to sophomore year is unbelievable and I think it is all for the better. I think this was very evident in our run towards the end of the season. I just think that the knowledge of the game that he has and all of his experiences and his passion for the game has brought our training to a new level and I really enjoy having him as a coach.

GD:  Most people don't know your grandfather, Tippy Martinez, was a very famous professional baseball player.  What have you heard about his playing career and did you enjoy baseball growing up?

CM:  My family is very into baseball so I've grown up around it. My dad was in the minor leagues for a while. I never got to see my dad or my grandpa play, but my brothers are now really into baseball and they want to become professional baseball players as well. I've been to multiple Baltimore Orioles games and multiple baseball games in general watching my brothers play. I've gotten to go to multiple different Orioles events (that was the team my grandpa was with the longest), so just being in Baltimore already I was able to go to many Orioles games with him and many games in honor of the 1983 World Series team. Just spending time with him and family members, friends, and Orioles staff, I've heard so many awesome stories. I've seen footage of him pitching and picking off three players, which was one of his “claims to fame.” It's cool that no one can ever break that record as you can only pick off three guys in one inning.

GD:  Did you play baseball/softball growing up?

CM:  I played softball a little bit, but only for a year. I did enjoy it, but I also just loved playing soccer and lacrosse so much growing up that they became my predominant outlets for sports. So, I just decided to go a different direction.

GD:  When did you choose soccer over lacrosse?

CM:  Through middle school I started to lean towards soccer. I did play club in both sports, but I started with club soccer earlier and I think that made a strong impact on me as I started to spend more time with soccer. Then, I started to choose soccer over lacrosse if there was a conflict. I still love lacrosse and part of me wishes I could be playing both, but soccer is my passion.