Duke Heads Its Way Past N.C. State In ACC Tournament

Wednesday, November 1

Boyds, Md.

2:30 p.m.

Duke University

N.C. State

Duke Heads Its Way Past N.C. State In ACC Tournament

11/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

BOYDS, Md. ? No. 4 Duke (14-3-1) won a closely contested match over N.C. State (6-10-1), 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon. It was the second of four quarterfinal games being played Wednesday in the ACC Tournament. Both Blue Devil goals were scored on headers and the defense held on against an upset-minded Wolfpack team.

It was a much closer game than the previous match this season between the two teams, in which Duke went into Raleigh on Oct. 15 and came away with a 4-1 triumph. The chances were there for the Blue Devils this time, with 20 shots taken, but they were unable to finish as they had in the prior contest. Duke's defense was just as strong this time around, allowing one goal or less for the 13th straight game, and for the 16th time in 18 games. The Blue Devil defense only allowed 11 shots by the Wolfpack.

The Blue Devils scored the first goal 21 minutes into the match on a header by senior midfielder and captain Chris Loftus. Sophomore forward Mike Grella passed the ball back to sophomore defender Darrius Barnes on the right side of the field, and Barnes put a cross into the box to Loftus, who finished with a header to the left side of the net. It was the fourth goal on the year for Loftus, the fourth assist for Grella, and the second assist for Barnes. That goal would be the only one for either side in the first half of play.

Duke's lead was erased only 12 seconds into the second half, as N.C. State took the kickoff and scored on a goal by junior forward El-Hadj Cisse. Cisse was able to beat Papadakis one-on-one after sophomore defender Ronnie Bouemboue played a ball through the Blue Devil defense. Freshman midfielder Jorge More was also credited with an assist. It was Cisse's sixth goal of the season and second of the tournament. Bouemboue has only played in eight games this season for the Wolfpack, but has managed to score four goals and tally one assist.

It did not take the Blue Devils too long to respond, as junior midfielder Michael Videira headed in a cross from the left corner by senior defender and captain Kyle Helton. The goal came 59 minutes into the match, and was the sixth goal on the year for Videira. Junior forward Spencer Wadsworth was also given an assist on the play, increasing his ACC-leading total to 12. It was the fourth assist on the season for Helton.

The game had its excitement on the sidelines as well as on the field. With 17 minutes left in the game, N.C. State coach George Tarantini received his second yellow card of the match, thus earning him an ejection from the Wolfpack bench. There were six total cards handed out by officials, Duke with two and N.C. State with four.

“Other than the breakdown in the beginning of the second half, I thought we played really well,” said junior goalkeeper Justin Papadakis after the match. “We're really focused this tournament, and we're not taking any games for granted.”

Five Blue Devils were named to the three All-ACC teams, which tied Duke with Virginia for most players honored this year. Announced Monday to the first team were Videira and Grella. Helton and Wadsworth were selected to the second team, while freshman midfielder Joshua Bienenfeld was named to the All-ACC Freshmen Team. It was the highest number of Blue Devils selected to All-ACC teams since 2000, and was the third year in a row that Videira has been named All-ACC.

Duke's Coach John Rennie is now the winningest coach in ACC history. He holds the records for most wins at an ACC school with 395, and for most wins in the conference with 91. Rennie overtook former Clemson coach I.M. Ibrahim in both categories. For Division I Men's Soccer coaches, Rennie is in fifth place with 439 overall wins.

The Blue Devils will play the winner of the Maryland-Boston College game on Friday night at 8:00 p.m., in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. The tournament runs all week in Boyds, Md., located just outside of Washington, D.C. If Duke should win on Friday, they would play in the championship game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The NCAA Tournament selection show will be aired on ESPN News on Monday, Nov. 6, between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.

2006 ACC Men's Soccer Championship

First Round - Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Match 1: #9 N.C. State 4 - #8 Virginia Tech 3

Quarterfinal Round - Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Match 2: #2 Wake Forest 0 - #7 North Carolina 0 (Wake Forest won on penalty kicks 5-4)
Match 3: #1 Duke 2 - #9 N.C. State 1
Match 4: #3 Virginia vs. #6 Clemson- 5:30 p.m.
Match 5: #4 Maryland vs. #5 Boston College- 8:00 p.m.

Semifinal Round - Friday, November 3, 2006
Match 6: #2 Wake Forest vs. Match 4 winner- 5:30 p.m.
Match 7: Match 3 winner vs. Match 5 winner- 8:00 p.m.

Championship Final - Sunday, November 5, 2006
Match 8: Championship Match- 1:10 pm (televised by Fox Sports Net)

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