Following a tougher than expected game against High Point Friday, the Blue Devils wanted to make quick work of another nonconference opponent.
Things did not go according to plan.
In a game marred by a pair of 30-minute delays due to severe weather, the Blue Devils tied Presbyterian 1-1 in overtime Tuesday night at Koskinen Stadium. The match also featured a red card for each squad and a troubling reappearance of Duke’s inability to finish chances from last year.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed not to get the win tonight,” Blue Devil head coach John Kerr said. “Especially being 1-0 up and a man up.”
The Blue Devils (3-0-1) had found no issues scoring goals during the first few games of this year’s campaign, racking up eight in their first three games, but had difficulty finding a foothold against the Blue Hose.
“We created a lot of chances,” Kerr said. “We have to do a better job finishing with the last pass.”
The first half was a sloppy affair with Duke largely dominating possession but unable unable to create any real chances with it.
The best opportunity of the first half for either team came in the 32nd minute following a foul, when Presbyterian defender Jacob Luedtke placed a free kick from 25 yards out toward the top left corner, forcing Duke freshman goalkeeper Will Pulisic to make a leaping save to knock it out for a corner.
The pace picked up in the second half following a 30-minute weather delay. The Blue Devils seized the initiative and immediately created several good chances, including one in the 47th minute for senior Cameron Moseley. The forward received a beautiful defense-splitting pass that put him one-on-one with the Blue Hose keeper Connor Behrend but his shot was directly at the senior.
Following another 30-minute delay, Duke finally struck in the 56th minute after Presbyterian defender Victor Menudier saw a red card for a hard tackle on Moseley. The ensuing free kick was floated in by senior Carter Manley, deflected off a few players and fell perfectly to senior Brian White, who powered it into the bottom left corner for his third goal of the season.
The Blue Hose (1-2-1) had barely threatened in the second half when a sudden mistimed tackle from Duke freshman defender Matthias Frick while attempting to block a shot gave them a penalty kick. Frick also saw red for the challenge, leaving the two teams to play 10-on-10 for the remainder of the match.
The penalty kick was launched into the bottom right corner by Luedtke, sending Pulisic the wrong way to tie the score.
Duke pressured for the rest of regulation, but was unable to find a breakthrough despite creating multiple golden chances and racking up its shot total. The Blue Devils ended the match with a 20-11 advantage in shots as well as a whopping 15-5 edge in corners.
“We have to play a little bit faster on the ball,” Kerr said. “We have to have better quality on our crosses and the last pass into the final third has to better.”
The pattern continued in the two 10-minute overtime sessions, as Moseley spurned a clear-cut chance to win in the 103rd minute. A cross found its way to his feet through two defenders right in front of the goal, but he smashed a volley directly at Behrend.
Duke mounted a lot of pressure on the Presbyterian goal for the remainder of the overtime period, but could not find a way through thanks largely to the great play of Behrend, who finished the match with eight saves.
“Their goalkeeper had the game of his life,” Kerr said.
Duke will be disappointed not to get the win despite controlling the match, but will not have time to look backwards. The Blue Devils now face the start of ACC play when Virginia Tech comes to Durham Friday night.
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