The Chronicle
When the offense only scores one goal each game, there isn't much room for error on the part of the goalkeeper.
But with senior Atli Knuttson between the posts, and a little luck on their side, the sixth-ranked Blue Devils (5-0) defeated both Richmond and No. 16 James Madison by the score of 1-0 this weekend at the Duke-adidas Soccer Classic held at Duke Soccer Stadium.
Knuttson stopped what seemed to be sure goals throughout both games. His efforts earned him the tournament MVP award.
"He may be the best-kept secret in the country," coach John Rennie said. "He hasn't gotten much recognition but he started out flawlessly."
In his four games thus far, Knuttson has recorded four shutouts. The only goal scored by a Blue Devil opponent came in Duke's opener, when Knuttson was on the sideline.
That streak of shutouts nearly came to an end Friday night against then-undefeated Richmond (2-1-1). With just over 20 minutes left in the first half, a Richmond shot ricocheted off the right goal post, somehow zipped along the goal line, hit the left post and bounced back into the field of play. A follow-up shot hit Duke midfielder Peter Gail, who deflected the ball out of danger.
"That was a bit of good luck," Gail said. "Atli has a tremendous relationship with the post."
Rennie saw that play from an angle he was not accustomed to-the stands. After receiving a red card in the previous game against Liberty last Saturday, Rennie was forced to sit out the Richmond game. This is the first year that coaches have to sit out a full game after they receive a red card and was Rennie's first game in 20 years at Duke that he has not coached.
"That was a unique experience that I didn't enjoy much," he said. "It's much harder watching from up there."
Duke's lone score against Richmond came 10:16 into the game, when junior forward Troy Garner intercepted a Spider pass and dished the ball off to sophomore Ali Curtis. Curtis dribbled the ball to the left of the Richmond goalie and sent a hard ground ball into the net.
Although the Blue Devils outplayed the Spiders in the second half, they could not convert any of the their scoring chances.
They faced similar frustrations Saturday night against James Madison (3-1). The game opened with some history behind it. The last time the two teams faced each other, Duke beat James Madison 3-2 at Duke Soccer Stadium to advance to the 1995 NCAA Final Four.
"They felt that; that's something that plays in their mind," said senior Jay Heaps, who scored the winning goal in that game his freshman year. "I'm sure they wanted to take us on this field."
For over 72 minutes, Duke and James Madison battled with neither team able to score. James Madison held a considerable size advantage, with several players well over six feet, but Duke held its own.
Then, in the 73rd minute, Curtis dribbled down the left field line and crossed the ball in the air to 5-foot-9 Heaps, who headed the ball into the goal, despite being covered by 6-3 Kevin Knight.
"We thought it was going to be a matter of beating them on the ground," Heaps said of his team-high fifth goal this season. "Ironically, it was in the air. You couldn't ask for a better ball, and I was just able to hang a little longer than [Knight] was."
The James Madison game was not without heroics from Knuttson. Minutes after Heaps' goal, a JMU forward came charging toward Knuttson with an open shot. Knuttson, diving toward the ball, blocked the shot in mid-air with his head, and then crashed into the opposing player.
Knuttson was able to get up and block the follow-up shot before requiring medical attention from the crash. He was able to play the remaining minutes and should play Wednesday against the College of Charleston.
"I get crazy sometimes," Knuttson said. "I knew if I had ran out and not headed it, it would be chicken."
Along with Knuttson, Heaps, Curtis and sophomore defender Robert Russell were named to the All-Tournament team.
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