Moewes Voted Duke Soccer MVP

DURHAM, N.C.—The Duke University men's soccer team awarded its team honors at its annual end-of-the-season banquet Tuesday night. Headlining the list was graduate student goalkeeper Robert Moewes as the team's Most Valuable Player in a vote of all the Blue Devils.

Also garnering postseason team honors were Max Moser, Brian White, Markus Fjørtoft and Carter Manley. Moser was voted as the team's Rookie of the Year, while White was picked as the Offensive MVP. Fjørtoft and Manley were Co-Defensive MVPs. Fjørtoft also was tabbed for the John Rennie Award for his contributions to Duke soccer on and off the field.

Moewes, Duke's defensive anchor in goal, played all but 28 minutes in goal and posted a 1.36 goals against average and a .736 save percentage. The Germany native ranked third in the ACC in saves with 3.94 and 67 overall. In Duke's upset win over No. 9 UCLA Moewes made a season-high eight saves, including five in the second half, to earn ACC Defensive Player of the Week and College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer Teams of the Week. He was equally as outstanding in Duke's upset victory over No. 4 Notre Dame with seven saves, three of which came in the second overtime.

Moser, possessing an incredible ability to serve quality crosses from the flanks and corner flags, led all Blue Devils with seven assists in 2016 to earn ACC All-Freshman Team recognition. His total still currently ranks third in the ACC season and is tied for third among all freshmen nationally. Only eight freshmen in Division I soccer have at least seven assists to their names. Moser's 0.41 assists per game average is second among freshmen and tied for 34th overall nationally.

A starter in 16 of 17 games, Moser registered the tying assist in a 1-1 draw with San Diego and also had the service that led to the game winner over Notre Dame during the regular season. Overall, Moser played in all 17 games and amassed 1,326 minutes to rank seventh on the team.

An All-ACC second team pick, White was Duke's points leader in 2016 with five goals and four assists for 14 points.

A native of Flemington, N.J., White started all 17 games for the Blue Devils and ranked fourth overall in minutes played. He led all scorers with five goals and four assists for a career-best 14 points, ranking tied for 10th in the ACC.

In his 17 outings, White tallied three game-winning goals, including the 90th minute strike that lifted the Blue Devils over No. 9 UCLA 1-0 in Los Angeles. He also tallied the overtime winner against Elon. White, also possessing the ability to find the open man, provided the game-tying assist in Duke's 2-1 come-from-behind win over NC State. For his career, White has played in 53 games with 43 starts and compiled 34 points from 13 goals and eight assists.

Fjørtoft and Manley helped anchor Duke's defensive effort with Moewes. They led all field players in minutes played at 1607 and 1606. Manley, playing at outside back for the Blue Devils, added a goal and three assists to Duke's offensive efforts. Fjørtoft was the steady force at center back for the Blue Devils. The native of Norway and three-year starter tallied a goal this season and went the distance in 14 of his 17 outings. An outstanding student as well, Fjørtoft is a tireless worker on and off the field for the Blue Devils.

Duke finished the year with a 7-8-2 overall record and went 2-5-1 in ACC play. The Blue Devils fell to Notre Dame in overtime of the ACC Championship first round, 3-2.

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