Duke Hosts UNCW to Close Non-Conference Action

How to Follow

Friday night's game will be broadcast by ACC Network Extra. Ryan Craig and Art Chase will call the action. To watch the game, one must have a subscription to the ACC Network by a cable provider or streaming service.
Live Stats also will be available at GoDuke.com.

Duke – UNCW by the Numbers
42 – Percent of the team's minutes played have been by freshmen – 4,472 of 10,580
6 – Of Duke's nine spring opponents ranked in Top Drawer Soccer's top 25
5 – Goals scored by UNCW in its two games this spring, scored by five different players
227:47 – Duke's scoring drought, going back to the ACC Tournament game against Pitt in November
10.78 – Shots per game average for the Blue Devils after nine games
5 – Rookies who started last week against Kentucky
45 – Combined starts among Duke's nine rookies
10 – Different starting lineups for the Blue Devils this season
69 – Corner kicks for the Blue Devils this season
37 – Corner kicks allowed by the Blue Devils
2 – Shutouts for the Blue Devils in 2020-21

Series History

Duke and UNCW meet for the 26th time in the programs' histories Friday night. Last playing in 2015, Duke owns a 15-9-1 overall record against the Seahawks. However, UNCW has had the better results of late, winning the past four. Three of those were narrow 2-1 victories.

In Common

Duke and UNCW share a common opponent in Charlotte. The Blue Devils battled the 49ers to a double overtime scoreless draw, while the Seahawks defeated Charlotte, 3-2. UNCW jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held off the second-half charge from the 49ers.

Breaking Down the Blue Devils

The Blue Devils are 2-7-1 overall after a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss to Kentucky last Friday night. Duke's two wins came against ACC foe NC State in the fall. Head coach John Kerr has arranged a challenging 2021 slate, featuring three non-conference games against teams ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes in the polls. In all, Duke will play six teams this spring currently ranked in the top 25.
Junior Eliot Hamill is Duke's man in goal after spending his past three seasons behind Will Pulisic. When Hamill made the start against Charlotte to open spring action, it was the first time in 66 games the Blue Devils had a new face in net after Will Pulisic started every game since 2017. In his first collegiate action, Hamill made five saves and helped the defense hold Charlotte to nine shots and just one corner kick. He has six saves overall and has allowed one goal in 206 minutes.
Offensively, Duke scored nine goals in the fall with Jack Doran pacing the team with three. Stephen O'Connell and Daniel Wright both contributed a pair, while rookie midfielder Nick Pariano had a goal and three assists. The Blue Devils average 9.70 shots per game, ranking ninth in the ACC. However, their 6.90 corner kicks per game is the best average in the league and rank third among teams that have played more than three games. Oakland (8.50) and Oral Roberts (7.50) rank above Duke after their four outings this spring.
Matthias Frick and Ian Murphy are the veterans who anchor the defense. Frick is the leader at center back, while Murphy and rookie Antino Lopez hold down the left and right sides, respectively. All three are solid defenders, with Lopez being able to provide a spark offensively with his vision and and long service.
Freshman Amir Daley also can play in the back, but will see more time on the right wing. His speed and high work rate allow him to get wreak havoc against opposing defenses, while also keeping the opponents' offenses neutralized. Freshman Lewis McGarvey is the holding midfielder in the middle. Outstanding in the air, McGarvey joins rookie playmaker and workhorse Peter Stroud as the ball winner. Stroud, a dynamic player who runs for days, is the player the ball needs to run through for Duke to be successful.

About UNCW

The Seahawks come to Durham with a 2-0 record after recording wins over UNCG and Charlotte to start the 2021 campaign. All five of UNCW's goals have come from different players and only two of them are assisted. The Seahawks are managing 11 shots and five corner kicks per game.
Nineteen of the 29 players on the Seahawk roster are either freshmen or sophomores as they feature just four seniors. UNCW went 12-5-2 overall in 2019, falling to James Madison in the CAA Championship game to just miss out on an NCAA Tournament bid. Three of the four seniors started in the first two games of the year, providing senior leadership on the field.
In goal, Gabriel Perrotta has played every minute, but has only had to make four saves. He has allowed two and owns one shutout. Defensively, UNCW is allowing teams 10 shots per game, but only three on frame.

Up Next

Duke opens ACC play next weekend, traveling to Virginia Tech March 6 for a 1 p.m., kickoff against the Hokies.

#GoDuke

Duke Hosts UNCW to Close Non-Conference Action

Players Mentioned

Amir Daley

Jack Doran

Matthias Frick

Eliot Hamill

Antino Lopez

Lewis McGarvey

Ian Murphy

Stephen O'Connell

Nick Pariano

Will Pulisic

Peter Stroud

Daniel Wright

Duke information

Duke Hosts UNCW to Close Non-Conference Action

Players Mentioned

Amir Daley

Jack Doran

Matthias Frick

Eliot Hamill

Antino Lopez

Lewis McGarvey

Ian Murphy

Stephen O'Connell

Nick Pariano

Will Pulisic

Peter Stroud

Daniel Wright

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Duke information