Duke and NC State Play to Scoreless Draw

Saturday, April 3

Raleigh, NC

7 P.M.

Duke University

4-9-3, 4-6-1

NC State

3-8-3, 1-7-3

Duke

NC State

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke and NC State Play to Scoreless Draw

4/3/2021 11:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C.—Duke controlled the run of play and outshot NC State, 8-2, but couldn't find the back of the net in a scoreless draw in ACC men's soccer action Saturday night at Dail Soccer Stadium.

The Blue Devils hit the woodwork once and just missed in the second overtime to come away with one point on the road in conference play. Duke is now 2-2-1 against ACC foes this spring, giving it seven points to sit in third in the Coastal Division.

Much of the first half was played in the middle third of the field as the Blue Devils were the only team able to get a look at goal, firing two shots. NC State (3-8-3) earned a couple of corner kicks and a free kick in the Duke defensive third, but the Blue Devils were up to the task and had no problems clearing the ball out of danger.

Duke had the better of possession in the early minutes of the game before NC State gained a little momentum with better ball movement in the latter part of the period. However, Duke's defense was steady and organized and the Wolfpack never threatened Duke's goal as the Blue Devils held their foes without a shot in the opening 45 minutes.

The Blue Devils registered the game's first shot on goal in the 58th minute as rookie striker Thorleifur Ulfarsson saw a quick opening against the NC State and fired a shot from 18 yards. NC State goalie Leon Krapf was up to the task and easily scooped up the

Ulfarsson had another look in the 65th minute as he touched the ball past a defender, but had his shot blocked out for a corner kick which the Wolfpack cleared away to send the teams into halftime tied, 0-0.

After being held without a shot in the first half NC State's first shot on target came from a set piece in the 69th minute as Tal Segev tried to beat Duke goalkeeper Eliot Hamill on the left post from 30 yards out. Duke's wall did the job and Hamill read it well and made the stop for his first of his two for the night to keep the game knotted, 0-0.

The best chance of the night came from Duke in the 71st minute as a Matthias Frick header dinged the crossbar. After Krapf punched the ball out of his 18-yard box, Duke rookie Peter Stroud volleyed the ball back into the box where Frick attempted to redirect it to the far post, only to be denied by the woodwork.

Duke junior Conor Kelly found himself in a great position in the 83rd minute, but mishit a shot from 15 yards and sent it well wide of the goal, resulting in Duke's seventh overtime game this season.

With neither team able to generate much offensive action in the first overtime, the Blue Devils looked to grab the sudden victory in the final 10 minutes. And in the 105th minute it looked like Duke might grab the victory.

After a win on a 50-50 ball by freshman Santa Ihara at midfield, Duke attacked down the left flank. The Blue Devils maintained possession and swung the ball to the right side to Amir Daley coming out of the back. Daley sent the ball across the box to Jack Doran who couldn't finish it as the ball skipped wide of the goal to end the game at 0-0.

Hamill finished the night with two saves as he did well to command the box on NC State's four corner kicks. Krapf had one save in 110 minutes of action.

The Blue Devils (4-9-3, 2-2-1) finish their regular season slate Friday, April 9 against rival North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., on ACCNX.

#GoDuke