No. 1 Duke?s Season Ends After 3-2 Overtime Loss To No. 8 UCLA In NCAA Quarterfinals

Sunday, November 26

Durham, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

Duke University

UCLA (Quarterfinals)

Duke vs. UCLA Division I NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal Quotes

No. 1 Duke?s Season Ends After 3-2 Overtime Loss To No. 8 UCLA In NCAA Quarterfinals

11/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? Eighth-seeded UCLA (13-5-4) upset top-seeded Duke (18-4-1), 3-2 in overtime on Sunday afternoon in Koskinen Stadium. Sophomore midfielder Sal Zizzo had two goals for the Bruins, including the game winner 30 seconds into the first overtime period. Junior forward/midfielder Spencer Wadsworth and senior forward/midfielder and captain Chris Loftus scored for the Blue Devils.

Duke would strike quickly in the game, as Wadsworth netted a goal 25 seconds into the match from 20 yards out into the top left corner of the net. Sophomore forward Mike Grella and junior midfielder Michael Videira were credited with their sixth and seventh assists of the season, respectively. Wadsworth's eighth goal of the year was the quickest strike of the year to start a game for the Blue Devils, and of the entire 2006 NCAA Tournament.

In the 19th minute of play, Loftus tallied his fifth goal of the season off of a corner kick from Wadsworth. The ball came in from the right corner of the field, and Loftus one-timed it from 15 yards out to put the Blue Devils up 2-0. Loftus had not played since Nov. 3 against Maryland due to a hamstring injury, but it did not take him long to get adjusted and contribute in his last game for Duke. The assist put Wadsworth in a tie for first in the NCAA with 14 on the year.

UCLA would control much of the first half, despite the score being in favor of Duke. The Bruins managed to rattle off seven shots in the first 40 minutes of the game, but were denied each time by junior goalkeeper Justin Papadakis and the Blue Devil defense. However, in the 41st minute, sophomore midfielder/forward Justin Leopoldo would find the back of the net from two yards out for his seventh goal of the year. The ball came in on a cross from freshman midfielder Kyle Nakazawa, after Nakazawa played a give-and-go with freshman forward David Estrada. It was the sixth assist for Nakazawa and the fourth for Estrada. The goal would put an end to the 445 minute scoreless streak that Duke had going, which spanned four and a half games back to Nov. 1 against N.C. State.

The first 30 minutes of the second half would be marked by strong defense and a lack of execution on offense. Duke seemed to take over the game from UCLA, but was unable to extend their lead. Junior midfielder Tomek Charowski had three chances and two shots for Duke in the second half, but was unable to convert on any. The second half would be much more physical than the first, with three yellow cards being distributed by the officials.

It was UCLA's first shot of the second half that would change the course of the match. In the 78th minute, Zizzo ripped a shot in between Papadakis and the left post, knotting the game at two. The goal came just after a corner kick, and assists were given to Nakazawa and junior defender Mike Zaher. It was the first time since Sept. 8 and only the third time all season that Duke had given up more than one goal in a game.

The last twelve minutes of the second half would see both teams desperately attempting to take the lead, with no success. Duke attempted three shots, while UCLA took two, and the game was destined to go to overtime.

Overtime would not last long, as Zizzo scored his seventh goal of the season and fifth of the postseason only 30 seconds in. Leopoldo would record his fourth assist of the year when he crossed the ball in from the left side. The speedy Zizzo took care of the rest, and the Blue Devils season was ended on the sudden death goal. It was only the third overtime game for the Blue Devils all season, and the first that resulted in defeat. UCLA became only the second team this year to tack three goals on Duke's defense, with Wake Forest being the other back on Sept. 8.

Coach John Rennie became the winningest coach in ACC history this year. Rennie now has 399 career victories at Duke, and 91 wins in ACC play. Rennie overtook former Clemson coach I.M. Ibrahim in both categories. He also is in fifth place for Division I coaches with 443 overall wins. Rennie has now taken Duke to the NCAA Tournament in 19 of his 28 years as head coach. The Blue Devils had only been to the tournament once before Rennie took over. This was the third year in a row and seventh time in nine years that Duke has been in the tournament.

Videira was listed last week as one of the 15 semifinalists for the 2006 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy. The Hermann Trophy is awarded each year to the nation's top collegiate soccer player. The Milton, Mass., native was a semifinalist last year as well. The winner will be announced at a banquet in St. Louis, Mo., on Dec. 2.

Duke's season ends with an 18-4-1 record, their best since 1999 when they went 16-1-3. The Blue Devils reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the second time in three years, won the ACC Tournament for the second year in a row, and won the ACC regular season title. UCLA will move on to face No. 4 seed Virginia in the 2006 Men's College Cup Final Four. Unseeded UC-Santa Barbara will go up against No. 2 seed Wake Forest in the other semifinal game. The College Cup takes place in St. Louis, Mo., on Dec. 1 and 3.

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