Bjornsson's Hat Trick Lifts No. 20 Duke Over UC San Diego

Sunday, August 25

La Jolla, Calif.

9 p.m.

Duke University

1-0-1, 0-0-0

UC San Diego

0-2-0, 0-0-0

Duke

UC San Diego

Bjornsson's Hat Trick Lifts No. 20 Duke Over UC San Diego

8/25/2024 11:28:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LA JOLLA, CALIF. – Sophomore Ulfur Bjornsson notched his second career hat trick on Sunday evening in La Jolla, California, as No. 20 Duke (1-0-1) men's soccer picked up its first victory of the season, 3-2, over UC San Diego (0-2-0).

Junior Drew Kerr assisted on two of the three goals scored by Bjornsson, moving him into the team lead for that category through two matches.

Bjornsson opened the scoring in the 18th minute receiving a pass from Kerr and placing his shot into the bottom right corner for the first goal of the night. After UC San Diego tied the match at one, Bjornsson found the bottom right corner of the net once again, giving Duke the lead midway through the first half. The Iceland, native added his third goal of the evening, tapping in a spilled ball by Nolan Premack to complete his hat trick.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Sophomore Ulfur Bjornsson produced his second goal of the season in the 18th minute, receiving a pass from Drew Kerr and depositing the shot into the bottom right corner, 1-0.
In the 21st minute, Andrew Valverde tied the match with a header into the bottom left corner, 1-1.
Less than two minutes after UC San Diego tied the match, Bjornsson tallied his second goal of the contest, placing a bicycle kick into the bottom right corner to regain the lead for the Blue Devils, 2-1. The goal was assisted by Kerr for the second time in the match.
With both teams feeling out each other at the start of the second half, graduate transfer Colton Pleasants produced the first chance for Duke, rifling a shot from just outside the box which was punched away for a corner in the 52nd minute.
In the 67th minute, Bjornsson cleaned up a Pleasants shot to complete his second career hat trick, 3-1.
In the 84th minute, Andrew McGee beat Wessel Speel from just inside the penalty area, cutting the Duke lead to one, 3-2.

NOTES

Sophomore Ulfur Bjornsson tallied the second hat trick of his career and the first for Duke since Bjornsson accomplished the feat against Howard in 2023. The Hafnarfjordur, Iceland, native has now scored in each of the first two fixtures this season and leads the team with four goals.
Junior Drew Kerr recorded his first points of the 2024 season, assisting on the first two goals that Bjornsson produced.
Freshmen Adrian Byasima and Sol Arbib made their collegiate debuts on Sunday, playing 11 minutes each.
Graduate Wessel Speel earned his first win in goal for the Blue Devils, recording one save.
Duke outshot UC San Diego 20-6 on Sunday producing 12 shots on goal. The Blue Devils also held the advantage in corners with seven.

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils return to North Carolina on Friday, Aug. 30, at WakeMed Soccer Park, facing off against Grand Canyon at 7 p.m.

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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