Ajago's Late Brace Pushes No. 21 Duke Past College of Charleston

Tuesday, September 26

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

5-2-1, 1-2-0

Charleston

2-1-5, 1-0-2

Col. of Charleston

Duke

Ajago's Late Brace Pushes No. 21 Duke Past College of Charleston

9/26/2023 10:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM – The 21st-ranked Duke men's soccer team, with two goals from Forster Ajago in the waning minutes, rallied past College of Charleston, 3-2, on Tuesday night at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils (5-2-1, 1-2-0) took a total of 35 shots, earned a season-high 14 corner kicks and held possession for 67% of the match in the mid-week victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blue Devils applied early offensive pressure, ringing the crossbar on their first shot of the day, taken by Ruben Mesalles in the 11th minute. Another shot hit the woodwork, this time attempted by Nick Pariano, in the 22nd minute.
Duke continued to remain on the attack as the half wore on, holding possession in its attacking third.
The first goal of the match came from the spot, as a handball in the box allowed Pariano to calmly slot home his second goal of the season on a penalty kick.
College of Charleston leveled the score shortly after halftime, as the Cougars made a penalty kick of their own in the 52nd minute.
The offensive attack continued for the host Blue Devils, as they took nine shots over the next 20 minutes of action, forcing multiple saves by the Cougars' goalkeeper.
The visitors pushed ahead in the 72nd minute though, finding the back of the net off a set piece.
Facing a deficit for the first time all night, Duke transitioned into an even more attacking shape, peppering the opposing penalty box with crosses and scoring chances.
As the game clock ticked under 10 minutes remaining, Forster Ajago found the equalizer in the 82nd minute, with a sprawling left-footed shot that was assisted by Ruben Mesalles and Drew Kerr.
Less than three minutes later, Ajago secured his third multi-goal of the season, heading in a cross from Wayne Frederick that was set up by Amir Daley.
The Blue Devils' defense held stout for the five remaining minutes, securing the victory.

NOTES

The 35 shots taken by Duke marked the most in a single game under head coach John Kerr and the most overall since the Blue Devils took 33 shots against Delaware on Aug. 31, 2007, in the 400th win of former head coach John Rennie's career.
The Blue Devils out-shot College of Charleston, 35-7, overall.
The 14 corners taken by Duke marks a new season-high.
Forster Ajago now has eight goals on the season, the most in a single season for the Navrongo, Ghana native. His previous high was seven, at Dayton, last season.
Ajago now has three multi-goal games in 2023 following his brace on Tuesday night. The grad student also has logged a hat trick against Furman and a brace against Wofford.
Nick Pariano converted a penalty kick for his second goal in 2023. The senior captain is now 2-for-2 from the spot this season.
Wayne Frederick and Amir Daley both tallied their first assist of the season.

QUOTES

"We had a bad performance at Clemson. We hold our hands up and say 'we weren't good enough'. We weren't great the first half at North Carolina but our second half we were firing on all cylinders. Everything was doing everything they could to force us to get a result there. … So the confidence coming in was great. We weren't worrying, we weren't stressed. And it showed. I think we played some really good football. It just didn't result in goals galore as we would hope." – associate head coach Michael Brady on Duke's confidence level entering Tuesday night's match
"Absolutely. It was vital that we got the win tonight. Two losses in a row, we haven't done that since freshman year, I think. It was so important that we got the win. Really well done for guys not to panic when we went down there. … It was really well done to see the win out with all the guys" – senior Nick Pariano on the come-from-behind victory
"I mean, obviously there was a bit coming from the coaches. But everyone knew the circumstances. We needed a win. Nothing but a win was okay tonight. It kind of became of a moment where 'this is it'. It's a big part of the season if we don't get three points today. That makes the season change dramatically. I think everyone knew that already and it was really well done to stay focused, keep at it and trusting ourselves." – Pariano on the message to the team after going down 2-1

UP NEXT

No. 21 Duke welcomes seventh-ranked, and reigning national champion, Syracuse to Koskinen Stadium on Friday, Sept. 29. Tickets can be purchased here, and students can reserve their tickets here. The game will also be broadcast nationally on ACC Network.

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

#GoDuke