Ulfarsson Nets Hat Trick in 4-0 Win Over Howard

Tuesday, September 28

Durham, N.C.

7 P.M.

Duke University

7-1-0, 3-0-0

Howard

1-4-2, 0-1-0

Howard

Duke

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Ulfarsson Nets Hat Trick in 4-0 Win Over Howard

9/29/2021 12:22:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)JOHN KERR POSTGAME THORLEIFUR ULFARSSON POSTGAME Photo Gallery

DURHAM – The No. 4 Duke men's soccer team (7-1-0) earned another shutout win in its return to Koskinen Stadium on Tuesday night after it defeated Howard (1-4-2), 4-0.

"I think we are getting to know each other even more now," head coach John Kerr said. "The players are coming into form now, like Thor didn't play the first four games and guys are coming back from injury. I feel that we are getting to know each other and the movement off the ball has been tremendous."

Sophomore Thorleifur Ulfarsson netted a hat trick in the victory, scoring in the 26th, 55th and 73rd minutes to pace the Blue Devils' offense. Freshman Felix Barajas recorded the second goal of the game, while fellow freshman Shakur Mohammed notched two assists. Sophomore goalkeeper JT Harms earned his second shutout of the season and finished with two saves on the night.

"I think the team has grown over time and we've gotten better and better," Ulfarsson said. "We are getting better at the best time of the year, so things are good."

Ulfarsson's hat trick on Tuesday was the second of his career, as he also registered a three-goal performance at Virginia on March 28, 2020. The Kopavogur, Iceland, native now has five goals for 10 points in four games this season. For Mohammed, his multi-assist game is the first by a Blue Devils since Max Moser notched two assists in a 3-0 win over Harvard on September 8, 2019.

Right out of the gate, Duke began to attack the Howard goalkeeper. Mohammed sparked a Duke attack when he made a long run in transition up the field with the ball. The Kumasi, Ghana, native found a wide open Ulfarsson at the other end of the Howard box and the sophomore buried it for the opening goal of the game.

Just two minutes later, freshman Ruben Mesalles joined the offensive action from the left back position when he fed Mohammed with a cross into the middle of the field. Mohammed then found Barajas, who ripped a shot into the upper middle portion of the net for his third goal of the season.

The Blue Devils ended the half with 10 shots and finished the game with a season high 27. Duke also set a season high in shots on goal with 15.

The home side continued their offensive pressure in the second half, finding two additional goals from the foot of Ulfarsson. The first began after senior Ian Murphy sent sophomore Nick Pariano off to the races with a long ball deep into Howard's end of the field. Pariano then delivered a one touch cross to a sprinting Ulfarsson, who beat a sliding Bison goalkeeper to make it 3-0.

To cap off a strong night, Barajas threaded the needle when he delivered a pass to Ulfarsson on the run. Ulfarsson beat two Howard defenders and the goalkeeper before finding the back of the net to make it 4-0. With the final tally, the Blue Devils have now extended their home goal differential to 11.

Next up for the Blue Devils is a top-15 ACC clash with No. 14 Louisville on Friday at 7 p.m. in Koskinen Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMSOC".

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