No. 2 Duke Tops No. 18 Connecticut In Final Exhibition, 1-0

Saturday, August 25

Storrs, Conn.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

Connecticut

No. 2 Duke Tops No. 18 Connecticut In Final Exhibition, 1-0

8/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

STORRS, Conn. - The Duke Blue Devils ended their pre-season on a positive note, as senior forward Paul Dudley scored a goal with just over two minutes remaining in the game off a feed from senior midfielder Joe Germanese to claim a 1-0 victory over Connecticut.

In front of a raucous crowd of 5,324 in Joseph J. Morrone Stadium, the Blue Devils defense shut down the Huskies for the entire game, improving upon their first pre-season game against Coastal Carolina in which they allowed two goals.

19 Blue Devils made an appearance in the game, and Coach John Rennie tried a slightly different starting lineup than he had in the Coastal Carolina exhibition. Senior midfielder Tomek Charowski and junior midfielder Pavelid Castaneda started in place of senior midfielder Zach Pope and senior forward Spencer Wadsworth. Pope and Wadsworth both played in the game as substitutions.

Senior goalkeeper Justin Papadakis made three saves on the night to hold the 18th-ranked Huskies scoreless. Papadakis started and played all 90 minutes for the Blue Devils.

The contest was very evenly matched, as the two teams each had eight shots and two corner kicks. The Huskies had 13 fouls to the Blue Devils' 12, and made four saves to Duke's three. Connecticut dominated offensively for the majority of the first half, out-shooting Duke 6-1, while the Blue Devils found their rhythm in the second frame, with seven shots to the Huskies' two.

Duke will open the regular season at home against Delaware on Friday at 7 p.m. The Blue Devils will have a quick turn-around as they face Valparaiso on Sunday, also at 7 p.m., in Koskinen Stadium.

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