Completed Event: Men's Soccer at #14 Akron on November 30, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 2
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Final
Men's Soccer
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at #14 Akron
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Duke Soccer Influence Strong Heading into MLS Cup
11/10/2019 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Former Blue Devils Vie as General Managers for Opposing Teams
Duke Blue might not be represented on the field Sunday when the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC meet in the MLS Cup Sunday, but there will definitely a Blue Devil influence to both squads as they vie for a second Major League Soccer title each. It is the third time in the past four seasons the two clubs will play for the right to lift the cup.
Former Blue Devil standouts Garth Lagerwey and Ali Curtis are the general managers for the clubs, with Lagerwey finishing up his fifth season with the Sounders and Curtis completing his first year on the job in Toronto. This will be Lagerwey's third MLS Cup with the Sounders, winning the crown in 2016.
Lagerwey was no stranger to front office success when he joined Seattle as the general manager in January 2015. Prior to becoming a part of the Sounders' management team, he was the General Manager and Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations for Real Salt Lake, during which time he guided RSL from a last-place finish in the Western Conference in 2007 to straight MLS Cup Playoff appearances, including winning the 2009 MLS Cup.
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four-year letterwinner for the Blue Devils from 1991-94, the Elmhurst, Illinois native ranks third in Duke single-season history with 100 saves his senior season. His eight shutouts in 1994 rank eighth in program history. After his collegiate career, Lagerwey had a five-year career as a goalkeeper for MLS' Kansas City Wizards, Dallas Burn and Miami Fusion FC. He made 51 career appearances and 46 starts, compiling a 25-22-0 record.
Curtis had a similar path to his current role with Toronto FC. Prior to becoming the General Manager for the Canadian club, the 2001 Duke graduate served as the sporting director for the New York Red Bulls, helping lead the club to the 2015 MLS Supporters' Shield. During his time with the Red Bulls, he helped establish NYRB II, the club's USL team to develop players through the academy to the first team.
He was the No. 2 draft pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the Tampa Bay Mutiny and played for three seasons. Curtis worked in the MLS league office for eight years and held the position of senior director of player relations and competition before signing on with the Red Bulls.
A star for the Blue Devils from 1997-2000, he won the Hermann Trophy as the nation's top player in 1999 and was voted the Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year in 2000. He still holds the Duke career record for goals (53) and is second in points (134). His 17 goals in 1999 are tied for the most in program history, while his 40 and 39 points in the respective 1999 and 2000 seasons are sixth and seventh.
When the whistle blows at 3 p.m., (ET) Sunday in front of a sold-out and raucous CenturyLink Field crowd, the Duke Blue hue may not be immediately recognizable, but it is certainly present.
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Former Blue Devil standouts Garth Lagerwey and Ali Curtis are the general managers for the clubs, with Lagerwey finishing up his fifth season with the Sounders and Curtis completing his first year on the job in Toronto. This will be Lagerwey's third MLS Cup with the Sounders, winning the crown in 2016.
Lagerwey was no stranger to front office success when he joined Seattle as the general manager in January 2015. Prior to becoming a part of the Sounders' management team, he was the General Manager and Senior Vice President of Soccer Operations for Real Salt Lake, during which time he guided RSL from a last-place finish in the Western Conference in 2007 to straight MLS Cup Playoff appearances, including winning the 2009 MLS Cup.
A
four-year letterwinner for the Blue Devils from 1991-94, the Elmhurst, Illinois native ranks third in Duke single-season history with 100 saves his senior season. His eight shutouts in 1994 rank eighth in program history. After his collegiate career, Lagerwey had a five-year career as a goalkeeper for MLS' Kansas City Wizards, Dallas Burn and Miami Fusion FC. He made 51 career appearances and 46 starts, compiling a 25-22-0 record.
Curtis had a similar path to his current role with Toronto FC. Prior to becoming the General Manager for the Canadian club, the 2001 Duke graduate served as the sporting director for the New York Red Bulls, helping lead the club to the 2015 MLS Supporters' Shield. During his time with the Red Bulls, he helped establish NYRB II, the club's USL team to develop players through the academy to the first team.
He was the No. 2 draft pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft by the Tampa Bay Mutiny and played for three seasons. Curtis worked in the MLS league office for eight years and held the position of senior director of player relations and competition before signing on with the Red Bulls.
A star for the Blue Devils from 1997-2000, he won the Hermann Trophy as the nation's top player in 1999 and was voted the Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year in 2000. He still holds the Duke career record for goals (53) and is second in points (134). His 17 goals in 1999 are tied for the most in program history, while his 40 and 39 points in the respective 1999 and 2000 seasons are sixth and seventh.
When the whistle blows at 3 p.m., (ET) Sunday in front of a sold-out and raucous CenturyLink Field crowd, the Duke Blue hue may not be immediately recognizable, but it is certainly present.
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