Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer versus Averett on September 30, 2025 at 7 p.m.
Men's Soccer
vs Averett
Friday, September 16
Clemson, S.C.
6:00 PM
Duke University
5
at
2
Clemson
Wenger's Hat Trick Lifts Duke to Win at Clemson
9/16/2011 8:18:00 PM | Men's Soccer
CLEMSON, S.C. - Duke University junior Andrew Wenger registered his first career hat trick to lead Duke to a 5-2 victory over Clemson in ACC men's soccer action at Riggs Field. Duke's five goals are the most by the Blue Devils against Clemson, while the three-goal win is the largest margin of victory for Duke over the Tigers since a 5-1 win in 1997.
Wenger is the third Blue Devil to register a hat trick against the Tigers, joining Pato Gutierrez in 1970 and Jay Heaps in 1997. That is just the eighth time Clemson has allowed a hat trick overall and only the third time on its home field.
Nick Palodichuk added a goal and two assists for Duke in the win, a career-high four points for the rookie midfielder.
Duke (2-4, 1-1 ACC) struck first as Wenger registered his third goal of the season in the eighth minute. Senior Joseph Pak lofted a long ball from the right side to Wenger in the penalty area. A nice touch by the native of Lititz, Pa., left him with a one-on-one with goalkeeper Cody Mizell. Wenger calmly put it past Mizell for the 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later Clemson (1-3, 0-2 ACC) evened the score with a goal from Austin Savage. Nice one-touch soccer found Iain Smith on the right side of the penalty area and he slipped it across the front of the goal and Savage was there to finish it.
The two teams went back and forth over the next 20 minutes with neither team generating any really dangerous opportunities. A turnover by Clemson about 25 yards from goal forced by sophomore midfielder Jonathan Aguirre gave the Blue Devils a great chance.
Aguirre found Wenger on the right side. Wenger served the ball into the box and sophomore Lewis McLeod beat his defender to the spot and slid to finish the ball in the back of the net for the 2-1 lead in the 37th minute.
Duke held off a final charge from Clemson to take the 2-1 lead into the locker room.
The second half was all Blue Devils. With more organized play and a renewed energy, Duke attacked Clemson's backline with fury.
As Christopher Tweed-Kent became more active in the game, he drew a foul while slicing his way through the defense. Duke set up for the free kick just a few yards outside the top of the penalty area with Palodichuk behind the ball. Palodichuk lined up to strike the ball and hit it perfectly with his left foot into the right side netting for the 3-1 edge.
Six minutes later Wenger struck again for Duke with a spectacular strike from just inside the left side of the penalty area. Palodichuk played a great one-touch ball to the left side and Wenger caught it first time and hit it into the left upper 90 for the 4-1 lead. The goal for Wenger was his second two-goal game and the fourth overall score for him.
A defensive miscue in the 73rd minute allowed Savage to get his second goal of the game and make it 4-2.
Wenger came back into the game off the bench and quickly added his third goal of the game with a phenomenal strike from 18 yards. He collected the ball at the left side of the 18-yard box and calmly struck the ball into the right upper 90. Palodichuk provided the assist on the play.
Duke held a 19-7 edge in shots, including a 10-3 advantage in the second half. Clemson had a narrow 5-4 lead in corner kicks. In goal, Belshaw had one save, while Mizell had five for Clemson.
The Blue Devils will host non-conference foe UNC Wilmington on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. The game starts a three-game homestand for the Blue Devils. Duke's next ACC contest will be against Wake Forest on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
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