Duke Erupts for Four Goals to Beat Wake Forest

Friday, September 23

Durham, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Wake Forest

Duke Erupts for Four Goals to Beat Wake Forest

9/23/2011 9:59:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-Five different players registered a point and three different Blue Devils scored a goal as Duke cruised to a 4-1 victory over Wake Forest in ACC men's soccer action this evening at Koskinen Stadium. The win is Duke's third straight and marks the third straight game with at least four goals.

"It was good," head coach John Kerr said. "Now we're back at .500 and I think that gives us confidence. We've won our last three games and we go into the Presbyterian game feeling better about what we've done and how we're progressing. We know it's a big week because we know we have that light blue team to face the following Friday, but we're going to take Presbyterian seriously and make sure we get the right result there and then move with confidence into the Carolina game."

Sophomore Jonathan Aguirre and senior Joe Pak both registered their first career goals, while junior Andrew Wenger pushed his season total to 10 with a pair of tallies. Freshman Riley Wolfe also picked up his first career point with an assist. Junior goalkeeper James Belshaw also came up with a huge stop, blocking a penalty kick in the first half, his second career penalty kick save.

"I think [Wenger] is really learning the position and learning when he can use certain aspects of his game," Kerr said. "But there's still more to improve on but when he knows there's space in behind and he's on full flight it's a beautiful thing to watch."

Duke's four goals against the Demon Deacons are the most since Oct. 25, 1995 when the Blue Devils won 4-0. It also is the first time Duke has won by multiple goals over Wake Forest since 1998. The multiple goal game is the fourth for Wenger. He has seven goals in the previous three games for Duke.

Wake Forest controlled the opening 10 minutes, running at Duke's defense with pace and finding holes. The Demon Deacons had a couple of outstanding early chances, but the Blue Devils' backline weathered the storm and made some adjustments and started to build a rhythm of their own.

After shoring up the defense, Duke started to generate its own scoring opportunities. Wenger was able to get in behind the defense and wreak havoc. However, Wake Forest goalkeeper Michael Lisch made a few strong saves and Duke was unable to capitalize on any rebounds.

Aguirre got into the action in the 19th minute with a strike on goal that Lisch was able to corral and then in the 28th minute on the strength of outstanding individual work by Wenger, Duke earned penalty kick. Wenger got into the box after falling down stayed with the play and drew the penalty.

This time it was Aguirre stepping up to take the 12-yard shot. He calmly ran up to the ball and stuck it into the right side past a diving Lisch for the 1-0 lead in the 28th minute.

Duke's defense stayed strong in the final 17 minutes and sent the Blue Devils into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

Unbeaten on the year when leading at the Break, the Blue Devils needed just six minutes into the second half to go in front 2-0. It was Wenger striking again as he collected the ball and made a 20 yard run, beating three Wake Forest defenders in the process to set up a one-on-one with Lisch. He placed the shot perfectly low and to the right corner for his first goal of the game.

"After the second half started I thought we were on top and really took it to them," Kerr said.

The Blue Devils' backline continued to stifle the Wake Forest attack, allowing just two shots in the opening 28 minutes.

"There's always room for improvement," Kerr said. "Certain things we have to communicate better and we have to step quicker. But I thought Nat Eggleston in the second half had a good half and he was a lot more confident and that's huge for us because he's a big player for us and having him and Sebastien [Ibeagha] centrally is a big plus."

Down a man after a red card, the Demon Deacons made things interesting with a goal from Ben Newnam in the 74th minute to make it 2-1.

However, it was Wenger again putting Duke ahead by two goals as he received a pass from Wolfe and turned on his defender and beat Lisch with a hard low shot. Duke added an insurance goal in the 82nd minute when Morales laid a ball off to Pak 20 yards from goal. The defender hit it perfectly into the left side-netting for his first career goal. He now has three points on the season.

Duke registered a season-high 23 shots, including a season-best 12 on goal. Wake Forest finished with 14 shots. The Blue Devils won the corner kick battle 6-1.

In goal, Belshaw made five saves overall, including one on the penalty kick. Lisch finished with eight for Wake Forest.

Duke will close out its three-game homestand on Sept. 27, hosting Presbyterian at 7 p.m.

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