Duke Falls to No. 18 Virginia Tech on the Road

Friday, October 7

Blacksburg, Va.

6:00 PM

Duke University

4-5-2

Virginia Tech

9-2-1

DUKE

Virginia Tech

Duke Falls to No. 18 Virginia Tech on the Road

10/7/2016 8:14:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

BLACKSBURG, Va. –Eighteenth-ranked Virginia Tech scored a pair of first-half goals and stifled the Blue Devils' offense to earn a 3-1 home victory over Duke in ACC men's soccer action Friday night. The loss was the first for the Blue Devils against the Hokies since 2004, breaking a 12-game unbeaten streak.

Cameron Moseley spoiled the shutout bid for the Hokies, scoring his third goal of the year in the final minute of action.

Duke (4-5-2, 1-3-1) started strong against the Hokies, holding possession well in the midfield and not letting the dangerous Virginia Tech (9-2-1, 2-2-1))attack get into a rhythm. The Blue Devils had good possession in the final third, but weren't able to put the ball into the penalty area for dangerous scoring chances.

The Hokies, after starting to gain some momentum offensively, took the 1-0 lead with a good touch from Marcelo Acuna to Rory Slevin just inside the 18-yard box. Slevin did well to hit the ball far post past Duke goalkeeper Robert Moewes.

“It was an even game up until [Virginia Tech] scored their first goal,” said head coach John Kerr. “It seemed like they had some opportunities and we had some opportunities and they capitalized and scored. They gained a lot of confidence from that.”

The Blue Devils had their best chance of the night in the 25th minute after a Bryson Asher shot from 20 yards squirted out of the gloves of Virginia Tech goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard. Torbjørn Alseth ran onto the loose ball, but Lundgaard was there in time to block Alseth from touching it in past the near post.

Virginia Tech made it 2-0 with 1:14 left in the opening half after Moewes made a good save, but Humberto Montero was right there to put in the rebound. Moewes finished with three saves in the opening half.

Facing its biggest halftime deficit of the season, Duke continued to battle in the second half to cut into the 2-0 deficit. However, Virginia Tech's defense, having allowed just eight goals this season, refused to let the Blue Devils get quality chances and the Hokies capitalized on a free kick from 25 yards to make it 3-0.

The Blue Devils ruined the Hokies' shutout with 42 seconds left as Cameron Moseley headed in a Suniel Veerakone free kick. The rookie midfielder served a ball from the left side into the middle of the penalty box where Moseley headed the ball off the inside of the far post and across the goal line. The goal was the third for Moseley and Veerakone's fourth assist of the year.

“I'm happy they didn't throw the towel in and they easily could have,” Kerr said. “There is some spirit there, there is heart there. I thought Cameron Moseley was tremendous tonight and Brandon Williamson continues to impress us.”

Virginia Tech outshot the Blue Devils 13-8 for the game and had five corner kicks to Duke's two. Moewes finished with six saves for Duke, while Lundgaard had three for the Hokies.

Duke does not play a midweek game as it prepares for No. 4 North Carolina Oct. 14 at 7 p.m., at Koskinen Stadium. The game will be broadcast by ACC Network Extra.

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