Duke Uses Second-Half Push to Beat Clemson

Friday, October 23

Durham, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

Clemson

Blue Devils Fall to Michigan State in Final Exhibition

Duke Uses Second-Half Push to Beat Clemson

10/23/2009 10:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-The 19th-ranked Duke University men's soccer team tallied a pair of late goals in the second half to earn an important 2-1 victory over ACC foe Clemson this evening at Koskinen Stadium. Junior Cole Grossman tallied the game-winner for the Blue Devils, his fourth of the season.

The Blue Devils improve to 10-4-0 overall, matching their overall wins total from a year ago, and to 3-3-0 in ACC play. Duke is 9-1-0 at home this season and is riding a three-game win streak.

"We understood going in that it was never going to be an easy game," head coach John Kerr said. "They've had some difficult results playing well and same again tonight. They suffered a tough result, but I thought [Clemson] played well."

After an even opening 10 minutes, Clemson (2-10-1, 1-5-0) earned the first really good scoring opportunity with a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Connor Barbaree stepped up and swung the ball around the right side of the wall but was denied by the far post to keep the game scoreless.

Duke came right back 30 seconds later with senior Josh Bienenfeld making an outstanding tackle at midfield to win the ball and create a counterattack opportunity. Attacking a full speed, Bienenfeld slotted the ball into the box where Grossman sent a shot over the crossbar.

After exciting up-and-down action, Clemson's Riley Sumpter sent a long ball out of the midfield and behind the Blue Devil backline. Nathan Thornton ran onto the service and beat Duke goalie James Belshaw to get an open net for the 1-0 lead at the 23:07 mark.

Duke regained momentum in the final 10 minutes of the opening half as it started to push the pace. Generating various opportunities, the Blue Devils were right on the doorstep, but could not quite find the finishing touch as they headed into halftime trailing 1-0.

The Blue Devils picked up right where they left off and controlled the run of play in the opening 10 minutes of the second frame. A free kick from Grossman squirted through the box and skipped just wide of the goal and freshman Ryan Finley was whistled for offside by the slimmest of margins as the ball bounced around the box.

"At halftime we talked about keeping the belief and don't let the situation get you down," Kerr said. "Just believe in yourselves, work hard, anticipate a little bit more and roll up your sleeves and get after it a little bit more and they did. In the second half they picked it up and good things happened."

In the 66th minute, Finley found himself on the doorstep, but Clemson goalie Joseph Bendik was able to come up with the big save.

Freshman Andrew Wenger ignited the crowd with 20 minutes to go, weaving his way around Tiger defenders and into the box. Looking to just lift it over Bendik for the score, Wenger's touch landed just wide of the goal to keep Clemson in front 1-0.

The Blue Devils finally broke through in the 75th minute with a header from Matthew Thomas. Grossman served a perfect ball to the back post where Thomas rose up above everyone and headed it home for his third goal of the year.

"The general mentality of the team is that we can never give up and to always fight," Thomas said. "The mentality was that we just had to get the first one and the second one would come."

Duke continued to run at Clemson in search of the go-ahead score. Bienenfeld and Grossman put together good combination work in offensive third with the final pass finding Grossman's feet. The native of St. Louis, Mo., used his crafty footwork to make his way into the 18-yard box and was taken down from behind to win a penalty kick with 8:43 left in regulation. Grossman stepped up to the 12-yard spot and calmly put the ball to the right corner for the 2-1 lead.

The Blue Devils stayed strong in the final eight minutes to come away with the crucial one-goal win. Duke dominated the second half of play, outshooting the Tigers 11-3 in the half and 20-9 for the game. The Blue Devils won the corner kick battle 8-3.

In goal, Belshaw made three stops to earn his eighth win of the year, while Bendik had eight saves in the loss.

Duke closes out its non-conference schedule on Oct. 27 against Presbyterian at 7 p.m., at Koskinen Stadium.

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