Second Half Goals Lift No. 6 Virginia Over No. 2 Duke

Friday, September 13

Durham, N.C.

6:00 PM

Duke University

4-1-0, 0-1-0

Virginia

4-0-0, 1-0-0

Virginia

Duke

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Second Half Goals Lift No. 6 Virginia Over No. 2 Duke

9/13/2019 9:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

Duke Back in Action Sept. 16 against No. 22 SMU

DURHAM, N.C.—Sixth-ranked Virginia scored twice in the second half to upset the No. 2 Blue Devils, 3-1, in the ACC men's soccer opener at Koskinen Stadium Friday night. The loss was the first for Duke this season, while the Cavaliers remain unbeaten.

"Overall I thought we put in a good effort," said head coach John Kerr. "I thought the first half we were really good. There was a point in time [in the second half] where we gave the ball away to give them a chance to counterattack and get the second goal. That was a crucial moment in the game."

Duke (4-1-0, 0-1-0), entering the game unbeaten and on 260-minute shutout streak, took the early lead against the Cavaliers on an absolutely spectacular goal. It marked the first tally Virginia (4-0-0, 1-0-0) had allowed all season.
With both teams trying to get into the rhythm of the game, the Blue Devils went straight at the Virginia defense. The dynamic duo of Aedan Stanley and Daniele Proch did their combination thing on the left side with a give and go that left Stanley wide open on the left side.

The sophomore winger swung a perfect left-footed service to the back past where Kristofer Gardarsson was making the perfectly timed run to head home the ball for the 1-0 advantage in the fifth minute. The goal was his first of the season and second of his career.

Duke continued to press forward in search of a crucial second goal and nearly had one from Suniel Veerakone and a near miss from Scotty Taylor to keep Virginia within striking distance of evening the score.

"We had a really good chance to finish in the first half to make it 2-0, which changes everything," Kerr said. "Games are decided on moments and momentum changes based on those moments. A little bit disappointed and hopefully we can move forward."

Then in the 28th minute, Virginia took advantage of Duke being unable to clear the ball out of the box as Henry Kessler took his half chance and snuck it past a shielded Duke goalkeeper Will Pulisic to make it 1-1 at the break.

Despite Virginia having the better of play in the early moments of the second half, Duke nearly took the 2-1 lead on a Brandon Williamson shot that was cleared off the line. The senior midfielder struck the ball perfectly, but a Virginia defender was in the perfect position to put it out for a corner kick.

Just over seven minutes later, Virginia deflated Duke's hopes when Nathaniel Crofts Jr. slotted home a well-played ball from Joe Bell for the 2-1 lead. In the 71st minute, the Cavaliers iced the victory on a tap in by Spencer Patton after a good individual effort from Daryl Dike.

"We had a lot of the ball after that goal," Kerr said. "We were knocking on the door and were trying to be patient and move them because they didn't sub in the first half. We were doing all the right things, we just didn't finish."

The Blue Devils had good possession in the second half at times, but couldn't quite find that finishing pass against the Cavalier defense. Virginia held a slight 11-10 advantage in shots, while Cavalier goalkeeper Colin Shutler had three saves. Pulisic made two for the Blue Devils in goal.

Duke turns right around to host No. 22 SMU Monday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m., on ACCNX for ACC Network subscribers.

#GoDuke