Duke Athletics
Women's Soccer
DURHAM –GoDuke.com caught up with Duke women's soccer 2013 graduate Tara Campbell recently to check in and see what she has been up to since graduating. Campbell, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio., saw action in 92 matches over four season with the Blue Devils. She was a part of Duke head coachRobbie Church's first NCAA College Cup squad in 2011 and still remains one of the top goalkeepers in Blue Devil history.Campbell's 30 shutouts over her career ranks fourth in Duke program lore.
GoDuke.com: Since graduating from Duke, what have you been up to?
Tara Campbell: It feels like graduation was just yesterday, until I stop tothink about all that has happened in the past 11 years! After I left Duke, I got my Masters in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and then started my engineering career at a small company in Cincinnati called KZF Design. I thought I was going to be working on building design, but they needed someone to help with bridges soI agreed. I learned at Duke to say yes to opportunities, even if they aren't what you were expecting, and I owe a career in bridge engineering to that! Since then I've worked at three different consulting engineering firms as a bridge designer, inspector, and after getting my Professional Engineers License in 2018, an Engineer! I've gotten to see and do a lot of cool things as a bridge engineer, including inspecting the Roebling Bridge in Cincinnati, which is more than 150 years old and the predecessor to the Brooklyn Bridge. Climbing around on that historic Cincinnati bridge was really special to me.
On a more personal note, I bought a house on theEast side of Cincinnati in 2017 and have been there since. I added a dog to the equation shortly after buying my house. Her name is Millie and she's very spoiled! I'm still very close with my family, who doesn't live far away, and I've become an Aunt in the past several
years to two beautiful Nieces. My family has grown a lot in the past five years or so, withthe next generation of kiddos growing fast! They'll outnumber us soon!
GD: Following your collegiate soccer career, did you try to go play professionally at all?
TC: I did not try to play professionally, although the opportunity was there. I was hesitant to put my engineering career on hold and the league back in 2013 was just starting to feel substantial enough to take a chance on. If I was coming out of school today, things may have gone the other way!
GD: Looking back at your Duke soccer experience, what are some things that you look back on and cherish?
TC: Most of the memories I cherish looking back, are peripheral to the actual soccer that was played. I have a lot of fond off the field memories of my class, L7 as we called ourselves. We were really close on and off the field, which I think contributed heavily to our team success as my class got older and more experienced.I also have a lot of funny memories from my sophomore year, when the freshmen came in and brought a new mischievousenergy compared to the "heads down" mentality of my class. Forgetting balls when we went out to practice, forgetting a jersey for an away game, getting caught dancing with music too loud in the locker room; those are just a few of the antics I remember. What felt like very serious incidents in the moment, they all just make me smile now.
GD: How special was the 2011 team and how much fun was it to make a run to the College Cup?
TC: That tournament run is one of my most valued memories. We felt like underdog's early in the season, and each win felt big and exciting. At the end of the season, as we entered the tournament, we had a confidence that was undeniable and did great things for us as we made our run to the national championship. I will add here, however, that after making that run I was told by many people that I will appreciate the run one day and the loss to Stanford in the final will hurt less. It does not! I still hate that we lost that last game and would love to go back in time to have another chance! Still, it is full of great memories!"We Found Love" by Rihanna was the soundtrack to DWS that year, and every time I hear that song I can feel tears of joy well up. Recently, I was at Kim DeCesare's wedding and that song played at the reception and led to a mosh pit of former DWS players!
GD: Are you able to keep in touch with many teammates/coaches?
TC: I'm not really on social media, which makes it a little difficult to keep up with how everyone is doing. I keep in touch with my graduating class and try to see DWS alumni whenever I have the chance. It seems once a year or so I'm taking a trip that involves a DWS alumni or two! Getting back to Duke to see a game for DWS alumni weekend is always fun and provides a chance to see the coaches and a lot more former players, and I hope to make that trip more consistent in my life!
GD: Have you been able to make it back to Duke very often?
TC: I've been back to Duke a few times since graduation, but would love to get back there more! I went four or five years without being back, after COVID canceled a trip I had planned in 2020. When I finally got back there last year, it was amazing to see all the changes to the athletic complexes and surrounding campus! So much change, and so much progress!
GD: Are you able to be involved with soccer in any way these days or the last number of years?
TC: I will never leave the game of soccer! It is a part of me and I can't shake it. I still play soccer incoed leagues and pickup games, usually 1-2 days a week, although I've retired permanently from goalkeeper and favor a midfield or attacking position now! If Robbie only knew back then how I would shine as a forward!
I also coach soccer at the youth level. I was an assistant for the women's team at McNick High School, my alma mater, for five years, and they even won a state championship while I was there. I am currently entering my third year coaching at West Clermont High School, a public school near me,where I work with their goalkeepers and varsity program. I also do private training sessions with young goalkeepers in the greater Cincinnati area, working usually in 1-on-1 sessions to develop individual technical skills.
Print Friendly Version