DURHAM, N.C.—The Duke men's soccer team headed to overtime for the third consecutive game, battling No. 18 UNCW to a 0-0 tie on a rainy Friday night at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils held a narrow 16-13 edge in shots and dominated action in the final 65 minutes, but couldn't come away with a goal.

Duke has gone into overtime in all three games this month, allowing just one goal in 316 minutes. Blue Devil freshman JT Harms and junior Eliot Hamill split duties in net, making a combined five saves for the team's third shutout in the 2020-21 campaign.

UNCW (2-0-1) controlled the run of play for the first 45 minutes, but solid defending from Duke's backline kept the Seahawks from generating any quality scoring opportunities. The Seahawks outshot the Blue Devils, 6-3, in the first 45 minutes and never let Duke get into any kind of rhythm.

The Blue Devils went into the locker room at halftime, regrouped and turned the tables on the Seahawks in the second half. Duke found success early down the right flank with Nicolas Macri as the graduate student was able to put crosses into the box, but UNCW was positioned well to clear them from danger.

Junior defender Ian Murphy took a half chance after the ball popped out to him on the left side of the box, skipping a left-footed shot just wide right of the goal. Murphy active on the offensive end minutes later, finding Thorleifur Ulfarsson at the 12-yard mark in the penalty area. The rookie striker slid to put the ball away, missing just left this time.

That same narrative continued for the Blue Devils as they were unlucky throughout the second half and overtime periods to not get a goal. Amir Daley touched a perfect through ball into the box for Jack Doran in the 62nd minute, but he was denied by goalkeeper Gabriel Perrotta.

Ulfarsson, just over a minute later, had a near highlight-reel goal as he tried to curl a shot into the right upper 90 after a stellar long pass from Hamill. The junior keeper served the ball 60 yards, finding Ulfarsson where he beat a couple defenders, barely missing on the shot.

In overtime, freshman Nick Pariano mishit an open chance from 12 yards out in the 105th minute to add to the Blue Devils' frustration as they dominated action in the second extra session. But, perhaps the most heartbreaking part of the game was with 45 seconds remaining as Macri split two defenders with a fantastic individual effort to slip into the penalty area. The Buenos Aires native unleashed a right-footed rocket headed for the left upper 90, only to be denied by a spectacular diving save by UNCW goalkeeper Perrotta.

The Blue Devils had four players go the distance in the game, including wingers Stephen O'Connell and Daley. Doran and Peter Stroud also played over 100 minutes.

For the Blue Devils, Hamill was outstanding in goal, making four saves to preserve the clean sheet. Not included in the saves were plays where he came off the line to take the ball off the foot of a Seahawk player. Harms had one save in his first collegiate start.

Perrotta made five stops for UNCW as he improved to 3-0 and recorded his first shutout of the year.

Duke (2-7-2)  opens ACC action next Saturday at Virginia Tech. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., on ACCNX.

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