Blue Devils Explode for 6-0 Win Over Presbyterian

Wednesday, October 28

Durham, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

Presbyterian

Blue Devils Explode for 6-0 Win Over Presbyterian

10/28/2009 10:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-The Duke University men's soccer team exploded for six goals to defeat visiting Presbyterian 6-0 in its final non-conference match of the season. The Blue Devils had five different goal scorers and eight players overall register at least one point.

Freshman Andrew Wenger led the way with two tallies, while junior Cole Grossman had a goal and an assist for three points. Freshman Ryan Brown dished out a pair of assists of his own in the second half. Duke is now 11-4-0 overall and 10-1-0 at home this season.

"We wanted to get a good start to the game and get some goals early," head coach John Kerr said. "Also we wanted to give some of the guys who don't get to play a lot a chance to play and it worked out brilliantly that everyone got to play tonight."

The Blue Devils controlled the run of play from the opening whistle. Just six minutes into the game on a corner kick to the far post from Grossman, Wenger was able to slot the ball high past Andrew Wallingford for an early 1-0 lead. It was Wenger's second goal of the season.

"The ball just came to be and I just wanted to get it on frame and I was able to sneak it in," Wenger said.

Grossman registered a score of his own 12 minutes later when sophomore Christopher Tweed-Kent served a ball into the area and freshman Ryan Finley flicked it to Grossman for the finish and 2-0 lead. The third goal came courtesy of nice one-on-one work from Finley in the 21st minute.

Gathering a pass from the midfield, Finley beat a couple defenders for a one-on-one with Wallingford. He was able to avoid Wallingford with a quick cut to the right and slip the ball into the back of the net for his team-leading ninth goal of the year and a 3-0 lead.

Presbyterian (2-10-2) generated a good look at goal in the 29th minute, but Sam Eastridge's shot was scooped up nicely by Duke goalkeeper James Belshaw to keep the Blue Devils ahead 3-0 going into the locker room.

The Blue Devils dominated in all facets of the game in the first half, outshooting the Blue Hose 7-2 and winning the corner kick battle 4-1.

The second half proved to be much of the same as Wenger added a second goal on a corner kick just five minutes into the stanza. Brown provided the service right to the head of Wenger for the 4-0 Blue Devil lead. Duke continued to maintain possession and push forward with the reserves in the game.

In the 67th minute it was sophomore Kwasi Ayisi tallying his first goal of the season with a rifle from the top of the 18-yard box. Sophomore Temi Molinar earned the assist on the play with a nice feed from the right flank.

Returning to the game as a field player in the 68th minute was sophomore goalie Jan Trnka-Amrhein. Twenty minutes and two shots later he registered a goal, heading home a corner kick from Brown in the 89th minute. Trnka-Amrhein also played 18 minutes in goal to help Duke post the shutout.

Duke closed out the contest with a 15-4 advantage in shots and 7-2 edge in corner kicks. The Blue Devils posted their seventh shutout of the season and third in the past four games. Belshaw earned the win in goal, while Trnka-Amrhein, Nick Tsipis and Devon Bostock all provided help in posting the shutout. Belshaw and Bostock both made one save apiece.

The Blue Devils close out their regular season home schedule on Oct. 31 against ACC foe Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. Duke's seven seniors will be honored prior to the contest.

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