Blue Devils Battle to Scoreless Tie at NC State

Friday, October 8

Raleigh, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

N.C. State

Men's Soccer Hosts UNC on Fox Soccer Channel on Friday

Blue Devils Battle to Scoreless Tie at NC State

10/8/2010 9:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

RALEIGH, N.C.-The Duke University men's soccer team battled to a 0-0 double overtime tie this evening against Atlantic Coast Conference rival NC State at Dail Soccer Field this evening. The tie is the Blue Devils' fourth this season.

Duke is now 5-2-4 overall on the year and 1-2-2 in the ACC. NC State's record goes to 5-5-1 overall and 0-4-1 against conference foes.

The Blue Devils held a narrow edge 10-9 in shots, including a 5-3 advantage in the second half, and had seven corner kicks to NC State's five.

The first half was filled with back-and-forth action as both teams pressed forward with direct styles. The two squads combined for eight shots overall, but the squads' defenses were up to the task as they headed into the break even at zero.

The Wolfpack was able to create a selection of opportunities in the first 45 minutes as Duke goaltender James Belshaw posted a clean sheet with three saves. Duke attacked with the same intensity as it got into NC State's defensive third regularly. The Blue Devils were just missing that final pass, registering three shots for the half.

NC State came out fast in the second half with an excellent opportunity as Craig Sutherland broke through and ripped a low shot to the near post, but Belshaw was there again to make the big save and keep the Wolfpack off the board.

Nearly 10 minutes later, the Blue Devils created a great chance of their own as they put together good combination work through their offensive third of the field. Cole Grossman collected the ball at the top of the 18-yard box and slipped a ball behind the Wolfpack defense, but a streaking Ryan Finley was just two steps too fast as he was whistled for offside.

Duke continued to attack in search of the game's first goal. Daniel Tweed-Kent nearly made it a 1-0 game with a shot from 15 yards out. However, a Wolfpack defender covered well and was able to keep the ball out of the net.

The furious pace of the game continued, and this time it was Duke's Christopher Tweed-Kent getting a good look at the goal. After a pass from Grossman down the left flank, Christopher Tweed-Kent sent a low shot to the near post where Will Mackvick gobbled up the ball for his second save of the evening.

The final 10 minutes of regulation continued like this as the squads headed into overtime in a scoreless tie. Both teams registered eight shots apiece in regulation.

After the first 10-minute overtime session passed without a goal, NC State had the first good scoring opportunity in extra time. Chris Zeurner garnered the ball six yards from the goal and turned to take a shot before Duke center back Andrew Wenger came sliding through to block the shot. Wenger came up big again minutes later with a nearly identical play as the two teams closed out 110 minutes of soccer in a scoreless tie.

Duke returns to action on Oct. 15 when it travels to Santa Barbara, Calif., to take on UC Santa Barbara on Fox Soccer Channel at 11 p.m., EST.

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