Blue Devils Roll Past UNC Greensboro, 3-0

Tuesday, October 13

Durham, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

UNC Greensboro

Men's Soccer Arrives to Campus on Tuesday

Blue Devils Roll Past UNC Greensboro, 3-0

10/13/2009 9:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-Freshmen Ryan Finley and Andrew Wenger combined for three goals to lead 21st-ranked Duke to a 3-0 win over UNC Greensboro this evening in non-conference men's soccer action at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils stopped a two-game skid with the win and moved to 7-1-0 at home.

Duke (8-4-0) got two tallies from Finley and one from Wenger in the second half to secure the win. The Blue Devils' 3-0 victory is their fifth shutout of the season. Junior Cole Grossman assisted on the first tow goals of the contest.

"I thought we got off to a good start and put pressure on them early," head coach John Kerr said. "We didn't convert some of our opportunities, but we kept on them and kept moving the ball and made their life difficult tonight."

The Blue Devils had the better of the early minutes in the game, taking five shots in the first eight minutes. Duke continued to pressure the Spartan backline over the next 20 minutes, but was unable to find the back of the net.

UNCG (3-7-3) played a direct style throughout much of the opening half. Trying to drop long balls in behind the Blue Devil backline, Duke remained disciplined and was able to keep the ball out of danger.

Duke finally broke through in the 37th minute with a header from Wenger. After earning a corner kick, Grossman stepped up and served a ball that made its way across the face of the goal. Hanging out at the far post was Wenger, who punched it in with his head for his first career goal for the Blue Devils.

Weathering a few more quick attacks by Duke, UNC Greensboro nearly evened the score in the final second. A long throw from the left side made its way through to the middle of the box where Jamel Johnson just pushed a shot wide to keep Duke in front 1-0 at the break.

The Blue Devils needed less than 15 minutes in the second half to break open the game, as they tallied two goals just 1:02 apart. The first score came from the foot of Finley off a Grossman corner kick. Christian Ibeagha earned the second assist by flicking it through the box to the foot of Finley.

Just 1:02 later, Finley registered his seventh goal of the year with a one-time strike off a cross from sophomore Christopher Tweed-Kent on the left flank. It was Tweed-Kent's third assist of the season.

Duke continued its relentless attack with Finley getting into the box and drawing a penalty kick in the 61st minute. Grossman stepped up to the 12-yard spot and fired a shot off the left post as the game remained at 3-0.

The defense stayed strong in the final 30 minutes to preserve the shutout, the team's fourth at home this season.

The Blue Devils dominated in all facets of the game. Duke held a 26-9 advantage in shots and a 9-4 edge in corner kicks. Freshman goalkeeper James Belshaw made three saves in nearly 68 minutes of action. Sophomore Jan Trnka-Amrhein closed out the final 20 minutes and made one stop. Spartan goalie Peyton Ford went the distance and had 10 saves.

Duke will have the weekend off before returning to Koskinen Stadium to host Navy on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m.

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