Finley, Wenger Honored by TopDrawerSoccer.com

DURHAM, N.C.-Duke University freshmen Ryan Finley and Andrew Wenger have been named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com 2009 All-Rookie Team. Finley and Wenger also were voted to the ACC All-Rookie Team.

Wenger was voted to the All-Rookie first team, while Finley earned second team recognition. Duke was the lone school to have two players selected to the teams.

Finley started all 18 games and helped pace the Blue Devil offense with 22 points overall from a team-best nine goals and four assists. A native of Lumberton, N.J., Finley registered his first collegiate goal in the win over Columbia and has scored at least one goal in eight games. He posted a career-best two goals in a 3-0 win over UNC Greensboro on Oct. 13 and was named the ACC Player of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal in the 2-0 upset of No. 2 Maryland.

Voted the ACC Freshman of the Year by the league's coaches, Wenger has started all 18 games at center back, anchoring the Blue Devil defense to seven shutouts this season. He also earned All-ACC first team honors, becoming the first Duke rookie to earn first team accolades since Ali Curtis did so in 1997 and the third Blue Devil to earn the Freshman of the Year award. He leads the team in minutes, playing all but 42 minutes and has been equally dangerous in the offensive third of the field with eight points from three goals and two assists, including two game-winning scores.

The Blue Devils open NCAA Tournament action on Nov. 19, hosting Winthrop in a first-round contest at Koskinen Stadium. Duke and the Eagles kick off at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

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