If there are any lingering effects from a disappointing opening weekend in Connecticut, the men's soccer team (2-2) did not show them as it trounced Long Island and Butler this weekend to win the Duke-adidas Soccer Classic.
"It was a good weekend," coach John Rennie said. "We played well and we scored some goals. I think we'll be ready to start the ACC season next weekend."
Using the phrase "some goals" to describe the offensive output this weekend might be an understatement if Duke had spread its total in the Butler game out over both contests. The Blue Devils knocked in six goals-including two scored by defenders-en route to knocking-off the Bulldogs 6-0.
"They could have sat back and kept the score down," Rennie said. "They came out to play and opened the game up. That was certainly a gutsy thing."
Initially, it seemed as though Butler's bold strategy might help them make a game of it, as the Blue Devils were held scoreless for the game's first 37 minutes.
"We worked hard early in the game," Nii-Amar Amamoo said. "The ball just didn't bounce our way."
But with just over seven minutes left in the half, Ali Curtis knocked in a Robert Russell cross from the right side to give Duke a 1-0 lead. Defender Kevin Sakuda scored the second goal with less than one minute remaining in the half when he slammed a volley in off the crossbar on a Russell corner.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs barely managed to cross midfield. At the half they had not taken a single shot compared to 20 for the Blue Devils.
"We were really clicking on offense," Curtis said.
The second half began the way the first half ended. Less than four minutes into the half, Trevor Perea found defender Dwayne Harris streaking up the right side. Harris beat the keeper to the near post and Duke went ahead 3-0.
Four minutes later Jordan Cila found Russell, and the midfielder put Duke up 4-0. Curtis' second goal of the night put the Blue Devils ahead 5-0.
"My job is to score goals above all else," Curtis said. "Having that level of offensive output tonight was really exciting for me."
Cila capped the scoring with his third goal of the weekend and Duke cleared its bench with 30 minutes to play.
Coming on the heels of a 5-0 win Friday night, Duke finished the weekend without allowing a goal. Even more impressive, the Blue Devil defense allowed only one shot on goal in each game.
"It started from the forwards playing defense," Amamoo said. "Ali and Jordan did a great job. It was good organization from the top to the keeper."
Despite strong weekend performances by Curtis, Cila and Noble, it was Russell who turned in the weekend's most impressive individual showing. The midfielder dominated both games, scoring two goals and netting three assists en route to being named the tournament's most valuable player.
"It's a great honor," Russell said. "Whenever you go to a tournament and win something it feels good. It's nice to know people notice what you're doing out there."
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