His time to shine

Colin Thorp is not the conventional senior goalkeeper with years of experience and the commanding leadership of a five-star general. The good thing for him is in the Dukes 2-0-1 start this season, he hasn't needed to be.

Thorp has reached his paradise, the starting role, in his senior year. While many of his underclassmen teammates have compiled more career starts than Thorp, he isn't concerned about his ability to step into the role and make it his own.

"It feels good. It was a lot of work. I got some chances in the spring and throughout my previous years and finally I'm getting my chance where it's all mine. It feels good," Thorp said.

It's not that Thorp hasn't seen the field in his first three years, in fact he made ten starts his sophomore season. In those starts he allowed only 8 goals and made 34 saves. His 0.82 goals against average was 35th in the nation in addition to posting six shutouts.

"He's started games in every season he's played here.  On top of that, he comes to Duquesne from a very high level club team, and he knows how to handle himself in big games," teammate Carter Poe said.

The fact is, while Poe, and fellow teammates were learning on the fly on Rooney Field, Thorp was taking most of the season in from the bench as four-year starter Chris Torres tended goal.

"He was a great keeper. He made me work a lot harder and made me push myself more than I ever had before I came here and really that allowed me to become a lot better in where I am right now," Thorp said.

Following Torres' graduation last spring, the job has been handed over to Thorp full-time. And the senior has taken the role as his own. His teammates have noticed a change in the atmosphere and approach of the goalkeeper.

"They both bring something different to the table and the first thing you have to do is trust that he has your back, which he is slowly doing," defender Adam Clement said.

Thorp said he took a lesson from Torres in his confidence coming out and directing the defense, which has built the team's confidence in his ability to back them up.

Head coach Jake Ouimet thinks Thorp and has earned his shot guarding the net and has taken it very seriously.

"I think this year he really raised the bar, he came in really fit and strong and worked hard all summer to come into this season feeling really good," Ouimet said.

In the team's first three matches, one of which went into double overtime, Thorp has allowed only two goals and has seven saves with a shutout. The team's confidence in Thorp taking over the role has the Dukes set on making the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time since 2007.

Clement says Thorp's role is his own now. Leaving the days of learning from the bench behind him, Thorp has become a leader for the team.

"He keeps things light on and off the field. But at the same time when it comes down to business he knows what to say and how to get on people and that is what you want from your starting goalie," Clement said. "There's a rule on our team that you never talk back to the goalie, so when Colin talks people know that they should listen whether they agree or disagree with what he has to say."

Poe thinks his backstop's success has been stronger than what he says to the team.

"Although he has become more vocal, he also often leads by example as seen in his big time play so far this season," Poe said. 

Clement says his keeper's different mindset towards the position is a potential benefit that Torres didn't employ during Clement's first two seasons. Thorp likes to get the ball quickly up field and out of the defensive half when it's in his hands. To this point, the Dukes have outscored their opponents 5-2, so to the Dukes, that's working well enough.

As it turns out, Thorp's impressive sophomore season, which he called "a tease" was just a glimpse into what the future could hold. With no one in front, and no one close behind, it's smooth sailing for this first-time starting senior, and it's his time to shine.