It did not exactly look like a clash of the titans heading into the game. Although Duke (7-6, 2-2 in the ACC) and the No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers (12-0-1, 5-0) have combined to dominate the ACC for much of the last decade, this matchup did not look even on paper.
But Saturday night, Duke looked like the powerhouse that it has been over last three years, as the Blue Devils took the Cavaliers to overtime before losing 1-0.
"They're a veteran played-in team," coach John Rennie said. "Two years ago, it was the opposite, and we beat them in the regular season and the ACC Championship. Now we're the rebuilding team. But I couldn't be prouder of any team than I am of the way we played tonight."
The game-winning goal came less than two minutes into overtime. Virginia midfielder Kirk Dinnal broke loose along the right sideline, crossed the ball past Duke goalkeeper Justin Trowbridge and onto the foot of Alecko Eskandarian.
Eskandarian knocked the ball into the back of the net, and the Cavaliers left with the victory.
"Justin Trowbridge did a tremendous job when he went in as the keeper," Rennie said. "There wasn't much he could have done on the goal."
The 0-0 tie at the end of regulation was the product of very good goalkeeping, and very bad luck for both teams.
The Cavaliers' best chance in the first half came in the 26th minute, when
It proved to be a pyrrhic victory. Eskandarian kicked Maslin in the face, stopping play and bringing the trainers onto the field. The Virginia striker was issued a yellow card by the official, despite protests from the Duke bench.
"If it's going to be a card, a foul on the keeper to the face, you'd think it would be a red card [carrying an automatic ejection]," Rennie said. "He said he didn't mean it. Well, if he didn't mean it, why did you give him a card in the first place?"
Although Maslin initially stayed in the game, he would be unable to finish.
The Blue Devils' best chance in the first half came when midfielder Donald McIntosh slammed a free kick off the crossbar from 10 yards outside the penalty area. The ball bounced straight down.
"They way we play, we don't get a lot of shots on goal," Rennie said. "There weren't a lot of shots in the game, but we had a couple of great scoring chances."
Early in the second half, it appeared as though the tie would not hold up.
Virginia striker Ryan Gibbs found a seam near the top of the box and chipped the ball over Maslin's head. The ball was just inches from giving the Cavaliers the lead when defender Matt Ahumada dove and chipped the ball over the net.
After
"They told me at halftime if it gets worse and you can't see, don't try to stay in because you'll only hurt the team," Maslin said. "Matt Ahumada saved me on the line. The kid chipped me, and I just misjudged the ball."
Trowbridge entered the game, and quickly proved himself up to the task by making a tough save in the 71st minute.
The Blue Devils appeared to get stronger as the game progressed, and began to hold the ball in the Virginia half of the field.
Duke's best chance of the evening came with just under nine minutes remaining when striker Jordan Cila sent a cross to Adam Guren, open in front of the net.
Guren popped the ball over the net, and the game remained tied.
"That was our best chance," Rennie said. "The ball came across, and he couldn't get it on the net."
The Cavaliers had one final chance at pulling out the win in regulation. Sheldon Barnes beat his defender and got open inside the box. But Trowbridge dove forward, and took the ball off his foot, preserving the regulation tie and sending the game into overtime.
"He made two great saves, and he kept us in the game," Maslin said. "If he didn't make those two saves in regulation, then there is no overtime."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.