Duke Rolls Past Virginia Tech on Senior Night

Saturday, October 31

Durham, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

Virginia Tech

Duke Rolls Past Virginia Tech on Senior Night

10/31/2009 9:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-Duke University sophomore Daniel Tweed-Kent tallied two goals as the 16th-ranked Blue Devils rolled to a 4-1 victory on Senior Night over visiting Virginia Tech in ACC men's soccer action. The game was the final regular season home contest for the seven seniors, Josh Bienenfeld, Michael Burdick, Trae Harrison, Jordan Lewis, Ryan McDaniel, Eduardo Meza, and Matt Thomas.

"I couldn't ask for anything more tonight," Bienenfeld said. "Every single player on the team gave it their all and it is unbelievable to win in your last game of the regular season. It's an unbelievable feeling."

"I thought we had a good performance," head coach John Kerr said. "We were up for it. We had a couple of periods where we were kind of lulled, but we got off to a good start with two good goals. We talked about getting in good positions to score and it was evident tonight with all four of the goals that we did that."

Duke (12-4-0, 4-3-0 ACC) drew first blood in the 16th minute when Andrew Wenger rifled a shot on goal from 25 yards. Virginia Tech goalkeeper Stefan Caulfield made the initial save, but could not hold on to the ball and Tweed-Kent followed up and poked the ball in the early 1-0 lead.

Five minutes later Tweed-Kent struck again with a strike past the near post from nearly 15 yards out. Junior Cole Grossman and freshman Ryan Finley provided the assists after nice combination work to get into the offensive third of the field. The goal was Tweed-Kent's third of the season and his first multiple-goal contest.

"At the beginning of the game we talked about defensive and offensive transitions and we need to focus on the transitions," Tweed-Kent said. "So every time I could make a run to be the extra man I tried to run as hard as I could. [The coaches] said, 'Give it your all while you're out there and if you need a sub when you can't run anymore then you can come off and I did that.'"

Virginia Tech (5-10-2, 2-5-0 ACC) came right back off the kickoff and won a free kick from 45 yards from goal. David Fiorello stepped up and served a ball to the back post where Charlie Campbell headed home his third goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game with 23:15 left to play in the opening half.

The high level and entertaining play from both teams continued over the next 15 minutes, but it was the Blue Devils extending their lead again with 7:11 left to play. Sophomore Ryan Ruffing worked his way around a Hokie defender on the right side and slotted the ball across the mouth of the goal where sophomore Temi Molinar knocked it home for a 3-1 lead at the break.

Despite starting the second half a little flat, Duke was able to put another point on the scoreboard for a 4-1 lead with 33:25 remaining in the second half. Finley broke loose in the offensive third, got to the endline and served the ball across the goal. This time it was junior defender Nick Sih running on to the pass and putting the ball away for his first goal of the season.

Virginia Tech continued to press forward throughout the remainder of the second period and was able to generate some good attacks, but the Blue Devil backline stifled any chances the Hokies created to earn a 4-1 victory.

Duke held a 15-12 edge in shots for the game and had a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. Duke goalkeeper James Belshaw earned his 10th win of the season with one stop in 75 minutes of action, while sophomore Jan Trnka-Amrhein had two saves in the final 15 minutes.

The Blue Devils currently sit in a tie for fourth place with Boston College. Duke closes out its regular season schedule on Nov. 6 at No. 2 Wake Forest at 7 p.m.

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