Wadsworth Leads No. 3 Duke To 2-1 Win Over Harvard

Saturday, September 16

Cambridge, Mass.

1:00 p.m.

Duke University

Harvard

Wadsworth Leads No. 3 Duke To 2-1 Win Over Harvard

9/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. ? Junior Spencer Wadsworth scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute and assisted on Duke's first goal of the day to lead the third-ranked Blue Devils to a 2-1 win over Harvard on Saturday afternoon at Ohiri Field. Duke improves to 6-0-1 overall while Harvard falls to 4-2-0.

“Harvard came out on an emotional high and played a physical hard game,” stated Duke associate head coach Mike Jeffries. “We matched that and it felt like we were taking control of the game towards the end of the first half. It was a hard fought road win against a team that has been playing very well.”

Duke got on the board first in the 24th minute when Wadsworth found sophomore Mike Grella, who beat Harvard keeper Adam Hahn to the ball, dribbled around him and scored on an uncontested shot into the corner of the net.

Twenty minutes later, Harvard tied the game at 1-1 with 1:55 remaining before halftime on an Andre Akpan goal. Michael Fucito took a pass from the midfield, dribbled up the left side of the field and sent a pass to the penalty box. Akpan controlled the pass and blasted a shot that was initially saved by Duke keeper Brendan Fitzgerald but not controlled. Akpan then took the rebound and fired the equalizer into the back of the net.

With the game tied at one goal apiece, Duke scored the eventual game-winner in the 53rd minute as senior Ryan Pascioni sent a ball over the top from midfield where Wadsworth beat Hahn to the ball and lofted a floater into the back of the net.

The Crimson outshot the Blue Devils 14-12 but only managed four shots on goal. Duke tested Hahn as eight of its 12 shots were on goal. The Blue Devils also held a 9-2 advantage on corner kicks.

Fitzgerald came up with three saves in the game for the Blue Devils and Hahn had five saves for the Crimson.

Duke will return to action when they host UNC Wilmington for a 7 p.m. game on Tuesday at Koskinen Stadium.

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