The Blue Devils entered Friday’s game desperately seeking an offensive spark after scoring once in their first three ACC games.
But for one of the few times this season, Duke’s offense delivered in the second half.
Freshman midfielder Suniel Veerakone scored his third free kick goal of the season in the 75th minute Friday evening to lift the Blue Devils to a 2-1 win against N.C. State at Dail Soccer Field in Raleigh. Duke fell behind in the sixth minute, but quickly answered when junior Brian White found senior Jared Golestani, and hung tough before Veerakone’s game-winner sent the Blue Devils to their first ACC win of the season.
“Giving a goal away early kind of hurt us but I’m so pleased we bounced back quickly to get a goal to equalize things,” Duke head coach John Kerr told GoDuke.com. “You believe a little bit more once you can get that goal into equal terms. We had to struggle tonight because they had a lot of good possession, but we had to believe in ourselves and be resilient on defense.”
Although the Blue Devils (4-3-2, 1-2-1 in the ACC) got the win, they struggled to start the game. N.C. State dictated possession, and claimed an early lead when Simon Blotko sent a pass to Tanner Roberts, who headed the ball past Duke goalkeeper Robert Moewes.
But the Blue Devils responded just a few minutes later.
Following a turnover at midfield in the ninth minute, junior Carter Manley broke free near the left sideline and took the ball into the final third. He then sent a through ball to White, who crossed it to the back post for a tap-in Golestani goal to energize Duke’s offense, which has now scored in the first half in four straight games after accomplishing the feat once in its first five contests.
The Wolfpack (3-7, 0-4) continued to dictate play, outshooting the Blue Devils 14-6 on the evening, but Moewes and company held up. Duke’s star graduate student goalkeeper finished the evening with four saves, including a key one-on-one stop in the 36th minute.
The Blue Devils started the second half more aggressively, and nearly broke through in the 69th minute when Veerakone found junior Cameron Moseley. N.C. State goalkeeper Alex McCauley made his only save of the night, though, to keep the teams knotted at one goal apiece.
Duke had to fight through adversity after starting defender CC Uche left the game, but fellow freshman Brandon Williamson stepped into Duke’s back line and along with Manley and junior Markus Fjortoft helped hold N.C. State at bay in the second half. Following Veerakone’s go-ahead tally, the Wolfpack mounted a furious rally but were unable to equalize and force overtime.
“We had a great game, solid as a rock back there,” Kerr said. “Communication was fantastic, especially having to adjust with CC getting injured and Brandon in there. I’m really proud of our back four and the goal keeper.”
Veerakone scored his third goal of the season following six straight games without a goal. The Caledonia, Mich., native drew a foul about 20 yards away from goal, and fired a highlight-reel free kick into the back of the net to make N.C. State pay for the foul.
The elusive 5-foot-8 midfielder is now tied for the team lead in goals alongside White with three tallies this season.
“They fouled [Suniel] and he was vicious on the free kick,” Kerr said. “We were very lucky to hold on at the end there, because they were giving it everything they had. We just held on and weren’t going to give them a goal in the second half.”
Coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to Georgia State and 1-1 draw against Pittsburgh, the Blue Devils needed three points Friday and came away with their second road win of the year. Duke will look to add another win and take advantage of scoring chances Tuesday when it hosts Davidson at Koskinen Stadium before another road test at No. 18 Virginia Tech.
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