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Men's Soccer
vs #3 NC State
Photo by: Austin FC
Five for Friday: Duke in the Pros and Team Awards
4/23/2021 6:09:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Duke End of Season Awards
The Blue Devils recently convened as a team one final time before final exams got underway to hand out end of season awards and reflect on the unique 2020-21 season. Much like the conference postseason honors for Duke, the rookies dominated the team awards.
Garnering the team's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards was Peter Stroud. Rookie defender Antino Lopez nabbed the Defensive Player of the Year honor and Thorleifur Ulfarsson was voted the Most Valuable Offensive Player. The John Rennie Coaching Award went to senior Michael Reis.
Stroud an All-ACC third team selection, was Duke's engine all season. He started all 17 games for the Blue Devils and dished out three assists on the year and ranked second on the team in minutes played at 1,591. Stroud posted his first career point, providing the assist on the Nick Pariano's winning goal in the final seconds of the second overtime against NC State and added assists in wins over
Virginia Tech and Virginia. Going the distance in 13 of the 17 games, he was ranked third among freshmen by Top Drawer Soccer at the end of the campaign.
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One of Duke's backline anchors, Lopez started all 16 games he played and totaled 1,544 minutes on the field. Playing nearly every minute for the Blue Devils, the Las Vegas native was a crucial part of Duke's four shutouts on the year. A talented defender, Lopez had the ability to lead from a center back role, but could easily move out wide to run the flank and help provide an offensive spark out of the back. He finished his rookie campaign rated as the 43rd freshman by Top Drawer Soccer and garnered ACC All-Freshman Team recognition.
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Despite only being with the Blue Devils since January, Ulfarsson earned ACC All-Freshman team accolades after leading the Blue Devils with nine points. Ulfarsson started eight games and played a total of 688 minutes and finished with four goals and an assist.
A pure striker, Ulfarsson earned his first career point with an assist in the commanding 4-2 win at Virginia Tech. He notched his first collegiate goal two games later as a Duke comeback came up just short against Pittsburgh. The following week, the rookie put his name out there when he scored a hat trick in a win at Virginia. It was the first three-goal outing for a Blue Devil since 2015 and earned Ulfarsson the ACC Offensive Player of the Week honor among multiple other organizations.
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Reis has been a crucial member of the Goalkeeper Union the past four seasons. His work ethic on and off the field is second to none as he consistently made everyone around him better. He played in two games in his career, including a start in the final game this past year.
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Stanley and Pulisic Sign On with Austin FC
Former Blue Devil standouts Aedan Stanley and Will Pulisic achieved the dream of playing at the next level, signing on with Major League Soccer's Austin FC. Stanley was the club's third pick of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft (21st overall), while Pulisic earned a trial after completing his career with the Blue Devils in the fall.
"We are excited to officially welcome Aedan and William to Austin FC," commented Claudio Reyna, Austin FC Sporting Director. "They have both been training hard to earn a position in our roster, and we look forward to their further development as they add youthful depth to our squad."
"I would like to thank Claudio, Josh and the rest of the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to play for Austin FC," commented Stanley. "I am honored to be Verde and represent this great city and the people who call it home."
"I am very excited to be a part of Austin FC in our inaugural season. It's a dream come true to be able to play for a club with high ambitions and huge support from the entire city," commented Pulisic. "I'm ready to give everything I have to my team, my club, and the city of Austin."
Stanley, a left back, was drafted by Austin FC following one season with the Portland Timbers II. In his two seasons with the Blue Devils the St. Louis native started 37 games, playing both outside midfield and center back. He finished his career at Duke with three assists.
A standout goalkeeper, Pulisic started every game for the Blue Devils for four consecutive seasons. He logged 20 shutouts and picked up two All-ACC honors and an All-South Region third team notice. Pulisic ranked second in the ACC in saves in 2019 and finished the 2020-21 campaign ranked sixth among active goalies in career saves at 200.
Stanley and Pulisic were not on the Austin FC bench in the season opener last weekend.
MLS Opening Weekend with the Blue Devils
The addition of Stanley and Pulisic to the Blue Devils in MLS family pushed Duke's numbers in the league to six. Sean Davis and Brian White return for the New York Red Bulls, while Sebastien Ibeagha is back in the NYCFC uniform and Jeremy Ebobisse is in the middle of a multi-year contract extension he signed with Portland Timbers in February of 2020.
Davis wore the captain's armband for the Red Bulls season opener, while White also earned the starting nod up top for the club. Davis went the distance in the 2-1 setback to Sporting Kansas City, while White played 61 minutes before being subbed out.
Ibeagha was among the 20-player game roster for NYCFC, but did not see any time in a 2-1 loss to D.C. United. Everyone is back in action this weekend with the Red Bulls being the feature game on Fox Sports 1 Sunday evening.
Blue Devils Overseas Update
A host of Blue Devils are continuing the careers in the pro ranks overseas. James Belshaw continues to anchor the Harrogate Town defense in goal. Last season, the standout shot-stopper led Town to promotion into the Football League for the first time in club history.
Markus Fjørtoft joined Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton in September of 2020. He recently scored a goal for the 'Ton to force penalties. Staying within the Scotland, Ciaran McKenna signed a two-year contract this past summer with Partick Thistle of Scottish League One side. McKenna earned a starting assignment in the most recent game for the club, helping the team to a 2-0 shutout victory.
Off the field, Fjørtoft and McKenna continue to find high quality guests for their podcast, BroPod, where they talk about a variety of subjects from social justice within sports to Formula One racing.
Daniele Proch has found success with Italian Club Caldiero Terme in Italy's Serie D. The club currently ranks sixth in Serie D.
Blue Devils in USL Update
There was some offseason movement for a few former Blue Devils in the United Soccer League. Issa Rayyan made the move from Philadelphia Union II to the Tacoma Defiance. The Defiance is a part of the Seattle Sounders organization.
Rayyan made 34 appearances for Bethlehem Steel and Union II. He scored four goals in 2019, his rookie season. In his lone season at Duke, the Michigan native scored six goals in 20 appearances en route to being named the ACC Rookie of the Year.
Making a much shorter move is Hassan Pinto as he made his way two hours north to join Loudoun United of the USL Championship division after playing with the Richmond Kickers in USL League One last summer.
Carter Manley signed on with Rio Grande Valley FC in the USL Championship division. Manley previously played with Minnesota United in MLS and was loaned out to USL affiliate Forward Madison FC in 2019. Â
Sergei Nus rounds out the Blue Devil contingent, suiting up with Tormenta FC in USL League One.
#GoDuke
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The Blue Devils recently convened as a team one final time before final exams got underway to hand out end of season awards and reflect on the unique 2020-21 season. Much like the conference postseason honors for Duke, the rookies dominated the team awards.
Garnering the team's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards was Peter Stroud. Rookie defender Antino Lopez nabbed the Defensive Player of the Year honor and Thorleifur Ulfarsson was voted the Most Valuable Offensive Player. The John Rennie Coaching Award went to senior Michael Reis.
Stroud an All-ACC third team selection, was Duke's engine all season. He started all 17 games for the Blue Devils and dished out three assists on the year and ranked second on the team in minutes played at 1,591. Stroud posted his first career point, providing the assist on the Nick Pariano's winning goal in the final seconds of the second overtime against NC State and added assists in wins over
Virginia Tech and Virginia. Going the distance in 13 of the 17 games, he was ranked third among freshmen by Top Drawer Soccer at the end of the campaign.
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One of Duke's backline anchors, Lopez started all 16 games he played and totaled 1,544 minutes on the field. Playing nearly every minute for the Blue Devils, the Las Vegas native was a crucial part of Duke's four shutouts on the year. A talented defender, Lopez had the ability to lead from a center back role, but could easily move out wide to run the flank and help provide an offensive spark out of the back. He finished his rookie campaign rated as the 43rd freshman by Top Drawer Soccer and garnered ACC All-Freshman Team recognition.
Â
Despite only being with the Blue Devils since January, Ulfarsson earned ACC All-Freshman team accolades after leading the Blue Devils with nine points. Ulfarsson started eight games and played a total of 688 minutes and finished with four goals and an assist.
A pure striker, Ulfarsson earned his first career point with an assist in the commanding 4-2 win at Virginia Tech. He notched his first collegiate goal two games later as a Duke comeback came up just short against Pittsburgh. The following week, the rookie put his name out there when he scored a hat trick in a win at Virginia. It was the first three-goal outing for a Blue Devil since 2015 and earned Ulfarsson the ACC Offensive Player of the Week honor among multiple other organizations.
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Reis has been a crucial member of the Goalkeeper Union the past four seasons. His work ethic on and off the field is second to none as he consistently made everyone around him better. He played in two games in his career, including a start in the final game this past year.
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Stanley and Pulisic Sign On with Austin FC
Former Blue Devil standouts Aedan Stanley and Will Pulisic achieved the dream of playing at the next level, signing on with Major League Soccer's Austin FC. Stanley was the club's third pick of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft (21st overall), while Pulisic earned a trial after completing his career with the Blue Devils in the fall.
"We are excited to officially welcome Aedan and William to Austin FC," commented Claudio Reyna, Austin FC Sporting Director. "They have both been training hard to earn a position in our roster, and we look forward to their further development as they add youthful depth to our squad."
"I would like to thank Claudio, Josh and the rest of the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to play for Austin FC," commented Stanley. "I am honored to be Verde and represent this great city and the people who call it home."
"I am very excited to be a part of Austin FC in our inaugural season. It's a dream come true to be able to play for a club with high ambitions and huge support from the entire city," commented Pulisic. "I'm ready to give everything I have to my team, my club, and the city of Austin."
Stanley, a left back, was drafted by Austin FC following one season with the Portland Timbers II. In his two seasons with the Blue Devils the St. Louis native started 37 games, playing both outside midfield and center back. He finished his career at Duke with three assists.
A standout goalkeeper, Pulisic started every game for the Blue Devils for four consecutive seasons. He logged 20 shutouts and picked up two All-ACC honors and an All-South Region third team notice. Pulisic ranked second in the ACC in saves in 2019 and finished the 2020-21 campaign ranked sixth among active goalies in career saves at 200.
Stanley and Pulisic were not on the Austin FC bench in the season opener last weekend.
MLS Opening Weekend with the Blue Devils
The addition of Stanley and Pulisic to the Blue Devils in MLS family pushed Duke's numbers in the league to six. Sean Davis and Brian White return for the New York Red Bulls, while Sebastien Ibeagha is back in the NYCFC uniform and Jeremy Ebobisse is in the middle of a multi-year contract extension he signed with Portland Timbers in February of 2020.
Davis wore the captain's armband for the Red Bulls season opener, while White also earned the starting nod up top for the club. Davis went the distance in the 2-1 setback to Sporting Kansas City, while White played 61 minutes before being subbed out.
Ibeagha was among the 20-player game roster for NYCFC, but did not see any time in a 2-1 loss to D.C. United. Everyone is back in action this weekend with the Red Bulls being the feature game on Fox Sports 1 Sunday evening.
Blue Devils Overseas Update
A host of Blue Devils are continuing the careers in the pro ranks overseas. James Belshaw continues to anchor the Harrogate Town defense in goal. Last season, the standout shot-stopper led Town to promotion into the Football League for the first time in club history.
Markus Fjørtoft joined Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton in September of 2020. He recently scored a goal for the 'Ton to force penalties. Staying within the Scotland, Ciaran McKenna signed a two-year contract this past summer with Partick Thistle of Scottish League One side. McKenna earned a starting assignment in the most recent game for the club, helping the team to a 2-0 shutout victory.
Off the field, Fjørtoft and McKenna continue to find high quality guests for their podcast, BroPod, where they talk about a variety of subjects from social justice within sports to Formula One racing.
Daniele Proch has found success with Italian Club Caldiero Terme in Italy's Serie D. The club currently ranks sixth in Serie D.
Blue Devils in USL Update
There was some offseason movement for a few former Blue Devils in the United Soccer League. Issa Rayyan made the move from Philadelphia Union II to the Tacoma Defiance. The Defiance is a part of the Seattle Sounders organization.
Rayyan made 34 appearances for Bethlehem Steel and Union II. He scored four goals in 2019, his rookie season. In his lone season at Duke, the Michigan native scored six goals in 20 appearances en route to being named the ACC Rookie of the Year.
Making a much shorter move is Hassan Pinto as he made his way two hours north to join Loudoun United of the USL Championship division after playing with the Richmond Kickers in USL League One last summer.
Carter Manley signed on with Rio Grande Valley FC in the USL Championship division. Manley previously played with Minnesota United in MLS and was loaned out to USL affiliate Forward Madison FC in 2019. Â
Sergei Nus rounds out the Blue Devil contingent, suiting up with Tormenta FC in USL League One.
#GoDuke
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