Duke Ends Regular Season With 2-0 Triumph Over N.C. State

Saturday, November 10

Raleigh, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Duke University

N.C. State

Duke Ends Regular Season With 2-0 Triumph Over N.C. State

11/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

RALEIGH, N.C. --- Goals by junior forward Mike Grella and freshman midfielder Cole Grossman and a solid effort by the Duke defense led to a 2-0 win for the Blue Devils on Saturday afternoon against N.C. State. Playing their final regular season match of the season without senior captain and midfielder Michael Videira and with their ACC Tournament seed on the line, Duke pulled together to get their 11th win of the year.

The game was scoreless for most of the first half before Grella one-timed a long pass from senior midfielder Zack Pope into the net in the 34th minute. It was Grella's team-leading 10th goal of the season and Pope's team-high eight assist this year.

The 1-0 margin would hold into halftime, but Grossman quickly gave Duke the cushion it needed only 2:35 in the second period. Grossman's score was unassisted and came off of a rebound in the N.C. State defensive end. It was the third goal in 2007 for the freshman, with all three coming in ACC matches.

Duke's defense looked strong, earning their sixth shutout of the season. It limited the N.C. State attack to just three shots and only one on goal. Junior goalkeeper Brendan Fitzgerald earned his second shutout in as many starts this year.

The Blue Devils outshot their opponent for the 15th time in 18 games this season, holding a 15-3 advantage over the Wolfpack. Duke has outshot the opposition this season 337-156, and holds a shots on goal advantage of 144-75.

With the win, Duke improves to 11-6-1 and 4-3-1 in the ACC this year. The Wolfpack falls to 6-8-3 this season and is 1-6-1 in the ACC.

Duke now owns a 48-19-5 all-time record against N.C. State, which is its best record against any ACC foe. The 72 matches with the Wolfpack are the third-most against any opponent for Duke, behind North Carolina (85) and Virginia (77).

John Rennie's record as a collegiate coach is now 454-204-50 in 35 years. Rennie is in fifth place all-time among NCAA Division I coaches for wins and in third place among active coaches for career wins. With his 410 victories at Duke and 95 in ACC play, Rennie has the most wins of any coach in ACC history. He won Duke's first national championship in any sport in 1986. This will be Rennie's final season as Duke's head coach, a decision made prior to the 2007 season.

Senior defender Tim Jepson was named one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, which is presented annually in eight NCAA Division I sports to a senior student-athlete who excels both on and off the field. Fans can vote once a day per computer online until Nov. 21 at http://soccer.seniorclassaward.com/public/men/vote.aspx. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches, media and sponsors to determine the recipient of the award. Winners will be announced during the NCAA Championships, scheduled December 14-16 in Cary, N.C.

The ACC Tournament will run from Nov. 13 through Nov. 18 at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., this year. Duke has earned the No. 3 seed and will face sixth-seeded North Carolina on Wednesday at a time to be determined. The official bracket for the tournament will be released on Monday.

-d-u-k-e-