WINSTON-SALEM - Watching the ACC men's soccer championship game between Duke and Clemson, there appeared to be an invisible wall somewhere in front of the Tiger's goal.
In reality, there was no wall-only Clemson's stifling defense. Try as they might, the Blue Devils seemed unable to break through the Tigers' defensive line or get anywhere near their target.
"Unfortunately, we just couldn't really get behind their defense," Duke coach John Rennie said. "We got crosses and half chances, but getting behind Clemson's defense was very difficult."
The Tigers limited the Blue Devils to a mere five shots, handing Duke its first shutout loss all year in what Clemson coach Trevor Adair termed, "our best defensive effort of the season, beyond a shadow of a doubt." What's more, four of those shots went either high or wide, as Clemson goalkeeper and Tournament MVP Josh Campbell only had to make one save all afternoon.
On many occasions, Duke would bring the ball forward and get to within about 15 yards of the goal only to see a Clemson defender knock the ball harmlessly out of the way.
Adding to the challenge for Duke was the sheer number of defensive players out on the field. While most teams play three in the back, the Tigers used four defenders. Unaccustomed to this type of lineup, the Blue Devils found themselves continually frustrated.
"We did have our chances, but I really give credit to their four in the back," midfielder Jay Heaps said. "We were two and three against four, and they really did well in the back."
During the first half, it was midfielder Scott Noble who came forward to try to spark Duke's offense. But when that didn't work, Heaps stepped up on the attack and Clemson shifted its tactics to target him.
The Tigers' defense went after Heaps and the rest of the Blue Devils, closing up gaps in the middle of the field and forcing the ball outside.
"[The Blue Devils] like to have a lot of space," Clemson midfielder Jeff Bilyk said. "Jay Heaps, who's an unbelievable player, he likes to roam a little bit.... We haven't been beat around the outside all year, so what we try to do is push the ball wide. We did a great job of pushing the ball wide today and not letting them get around the back."
For the Tigers, though, their defense was a product of their offense. Clemson's midfielders and forwards frequently moved back to make defensive stops if needed, and Adair extolled his team's cohesiveness on the field.
"Defense starts with the guys up front," he said. "If they're in unison, working and hunting in a pack, then it makes it easier for the guys in the back to read the play.... You can't just do it with defense. We're doing it and scoring goals with good offense. That's our philosophy, that the best defense is a good offense first."
With only three losses all season, the Blue Devils are certain to receive an NCAA Tournament bid. After losing the ACC Championship, if they come up against equally suffocating defenses in the NCAA Tournament, they'll know what they're dealing with.
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