DURHAM, N.C.— Prior to heading home for the summer, Duke women's soccer rising senior Toni Payne talked with GoDuke.com about her upcoming summer and a number of other topics. A product of Birmingham, Ala., product, Payne was a NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team selection this past season as the Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Championship match.
Toni Payne: How has your experience been training with the U-23 squad?
GoDuke.com: I've been to a total of two camps with [the U-23 squad]. Both went very well. I started a lot of the games that I've played in and a lot of the international games. We won the Istria cup with the last camp we went to and I played in all three of the games. It has been good. I wasn't able to go to the camp recently due to exams. Hopefully I will be going to England with the team as well, while Duke is going to China.
GD: What was travelling to the Istria Cup like?
TP: It was a really good experience, especially with the U-23's. It is very different from any other age group because it is such a different mix of pro players and college players. You can just take it to a higher level and it is just a very good experience.
GD: What have you learn the most from the coaching staff and playing with the U-23s?
TP: I've learned a lot about positioning, understanding the game and paying attention to simple details about my position has been what is different about this age group. You are more specialized, based on what your position is.
GD: During the NCAA Tournament, you played exceptional soccer, especially in the NCAA
College Cup. During the Florida State contest, you scored in the final seconds. What do you remember about that moment?
TP: It hit me and made me realize how close we were to making it to the national championship game, because it is something that I had never experienced before. We made it to the tournament my freshmen year but we didn't make it my sophomore year. And then this past year, I realized that it was still a tangible thing that we could accomplish and finally when I scored that last goal, sealing the deal for us to go to the national championship was going through my mind.
GD: Looking back at the run the team had to conclude that season. What memories stand out the most?
TP: I think the parts of the tournament are what I remember the most, like when we went to Florida to play Florida Gulf Coast and University of Florida. Beating those teams really showed us that we could beat any team that we played if we played well enough. That is what I found most memorable and it was the most fun I had had with the team.
GD: How is the team preparing for another run?
TP: We are doing fairly well. If you look at us on paper, we are the same team in a lot of ways, such as starting and playing time. Kara [Wilson] was a big part of the team that we lost but I think in terms of mindset, we are not going to try and mimic anything we did last season, but instead trying to make it better. I think our mindset for the spring has been awesome in terms of trying to get ourselves individually better and then going into the summer trying to get better for the next season.
GD: What have you been working on individually this spring?
TP: I've been working on a lot of positional things as well as finishing and shooting and also my touches. I'm just trying to clean everything up before the summer.
GD: What plans do you have for the summer?
TP: I'll be going home for the first session, training with my dad. Then we will be coming back, but hopefully before the second summer session, I will be going to England. And then I will be here, playing with the RailHawks and working on running and conditioning.
GD: What is training with your dad like?
TP: He has a program where he trains a bunch of the college kids who are local and are coming back for the summer. It is really good training. We work on fitness, agility, skills and everything in terms of understanding the game.
GD: You are majoring in political science. Do you have any idea what you would like to do after your playing career is over?
TP: I'm not sure yet. I'm thinking I might want to go to business school. I'd like to maybe run my own business with my brother. That is the dream but if not, maybe do something in sports marketing.
GD: Both of your parents were born in Nigeria. Have you had a chance to go back there and visit?
TP: I have not been able to go back. I do have relatives. We are hoping to maybe even go this Christmas, which I am very excited for.
GD: What besides soccer do you enjoy doing in your free time?
TP: Obviously, I look forward to going home a lot. When I have a break, I like hanging out with my teammates and other friends who are not on the team and going to national parks or parks we have around here.
