Despite 19 shots—including an 88th -minute penalty kick—no Blue Devil could find the back of the net Friday night at Koskinen Stadium.
Virginia held off a frenzy of late Duke attacks as the Blue Devils failed to overcome an early goal, falling to the No. 24 Cavaliers 1-0 in a physical match.
“It’s really frustrating because we’re playing good soccer,” head coach John Kerr said. “Unfortunately, we gave an early goal away and lost our confidence. But we scratched back, got into the game and quite frankly, dominated most of that second half. We had some really good opportunities right in front of the goal. It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t convert.”
Duke (1-4, 0-1 in the ACC) started the game looking timid and unprepared. Sloppy passes, poor touch and passive defense led to the game’s lone goal in just the second minute.
Cavalier forward Will Bates found room down the left sideline and sent a cross in front of Duke’s goal that Brian Span tapped in.
Virginia (4-1, 1-0 ACC) had another chance just seven minutes later that goalkeeper James Belshaw thwarted with a diving interception on an attempted cross. In the 31st minute, Bates had a one-on-one opportunity with Belshaw after a lob pass got him the ball behind freshman defender Nat Eggleston. But, a poor touch just outside the box afforded Belshaw an easy recovery.
Duke made a few advances, but had no serious scoring threats in the first half settling for six shots to Virginia’s seven, and only one—a soft header by freshman Nick Palodichuck right to Cavalier goalie Spencer LaCivita—on goal.
“Coach made a couple of tactical changes [at halftime] but more than anything, it was just a mentality,” junior co-captain Andrew Wenger said. “We knew what it took after the first half, and we went after it.”
The Blue Devils came out aggressively in the second half, outshooting Virginia 13 to five—including five by Wenger and six by Palodichuck—as freshman midfielder Andrew Morales placed multiple balls in front of goal that Duke could not convert.
The attacks intensified as the clock wound down culminating in an 88th minute penalty kick after Palodichuck was fouled inside the box. Wenger took the kick but left the ball shoulder height just a few feet right of LaCivita, who made a nice diving stop.
“[It was just] poor execution, simple as that,” Wenger said. “I was trying to go to the right, but I left it in the middle, his height, right next to him. Way too easy.”
Duke created a few more chances, including Morales’ service leading to a Palodichuck header that fell right into LaCivita’s hands but failed to capitalize.
“I’m proud of the way they responded,” Kerr said. “We could have gone right in the dumps and lost this game four or five nothing if we didn’t have the spirit that we had.”
Virginia threatened in the final minute when midfielder Brian Ownby sent a brilliant shot towards the top-right corner from well outside the box. But a leaping Belshaw tipped it over the crossbar, crashing into the post on his way down. Play was stopped for a few minutes as Belshaw appeared shaken up, but he remained in the game, and Kerr said he was feeling fine after the game.
It was a physical match that saw Virginia rack up 24 fouls and four yellow cards to ten Duke fouls and two—senior midfielder Daniel Tweed-Kent and Palodichuck—cautions. Kerr expressed frustration that the officials did not penalize the Cavaliers more.
“It’s Virginia,” Wenger said. “They’ve always been a very strong team that will hit you and run all over you. That’s just the way it is.”
The Blue Devils will look to improve their finishing Friday as they travel to Clemson for their second ACC match of the year.
“Soccer is a cruel game sometimes,” Kerr said. “It’s disappointing, and I said to the players this is a real test of character. We’re a young team, we’re taking our lumps right now, but there’s a long season to go, and let’s see if we can build our way out of this.”
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