Late Goals from Davidson Sink the Blue Devils

Tuesday, October 4

Durham, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

4-4-2

Davidson

2-8-0

Davidson

Duke

Late Goals from Davidson Sink the Blue Devils

10/4/2016 9:53:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.—Davidson scored a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes to capture a 3-1 road victory over Duke in non-conference men's soccer action this evening at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils outshot the Wildcats 14-10, including 11-5 in the second half.

“It is disappointing obviously,” said head coach John Kerr. “We knew they were a good team and luck hasn't been going their way and unfortunately their luck changed against us tonight.”

Brian White scored the lone goal for Duke, which drops to 4-4-2 overall. Aidan Peterson led the Wildcats with a goal and an assist to help them move to 2-8-0 on the year.

“We just don't execute our opportunities and it's been haunting us the past two games.” Kerr said. “When you don't score you lose a little bit of belief in yourself and we didn't have enough belief in ourselves tonight.”

Both teams struggled to get into an offensive rhythm in the opening 45 minutes, managing a combined eight shots overall. Duke junior Cameron Moseley had the Blue Devils' best chance of the first half, heading a corner kick on goal with two minutes left in the half.

Less than a minute later, Davidson capitalized on a deflection in Duke's penalty box and Danny Davis was there to put the ball into the back of the net. The Wildcats sent a cross in from the left flank as the seconds started to wind down. A Duke defender cleared the ball away, but it was deflected off of a Wildcat right onto the foot of Davis who touched it in for the 1-0 lead with 57 seconds left on the clock.

The second half was better for the Blue Devils as they controlled more of the possession. Duke junior Bryson Asher went right to work and earned a corner kick in the opening minutes that Brian White headed just wide of the frame.

Less than 10 minutes later White finished his opportunity slotting home a through ball from Veerakone to tie the game. Jared Golestani started the play with an outstanding touch on the long ball out of the back to Veerakone. The rookie playmaker took his space and slipped a perfectly weighted pass in behind the Davidson defense for White to run onto and finish. The goal was his fourth of the season, while the assist was Veerakone's fourth.

Duke continued to put pressure on Davidson in search of the go ahead score, but Davidson refused to back down as it did the same to the Blue Devils. The two teams combined for 16 shots in the second half and both squads hit the woodwork.

Davidson hit the post in the 62nd minute on a header from Jordan Hill. Blue Devil freshman Brandon Williamson fired a great shot on goal stopped by Andrew Kenneson in the 69th minute and White nearly had his second tally before missing high on another one-on-one with Kenneson.

The Wildcats, just over a minute after surviving those two chances by the Blue Devils, won possession in the midfield and Christian Fechter sent a lofted ball over the Duke backline for Peterson to run onto. Peterson collected the ball and was able to split it past goalkeeper Robert Moewes for the 2-1 lead with 21:17 left in regulation.

Davidson sealed the victory in the 88th minute on a Jaylen Thompson score. Peterson provided the assist.

The Blue Devils refused to give up in the final minutes as Carter Manley hit the crossbar and Jared Golestani had a chance saved by Kenneson.

Kenneson finished with five saves in the win, while Moewes had two for the Blue Devils.

Duke resumes ACC play at Virginia Tech Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., on ACC Network Extra.

#GoDuke