Men's Soccer Plays VCU to Draw in First Exhibition

Friday, August 21

Durham, N.C.

8:00 p.m.

Duke University

VCU (Scrimmage)

Blue Devils Land Six on All-ACC Academic Team

Men's Soccer Plays VCU to Draw in First Exhibition

8/21/2009 11:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-The Duke University men's soccer team made its 2009 debut this evening, playing to a scoreless draw in an exhibition match against Virginia Commonwealth at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils played in front of an energetic crowd of students, but just missed coming away with the win.

Duke held a 14-5 advantage in shots over the 90-minute contest, but just missed a few close opportunities to put the game away.

The final opportunity of the evening came in the closing seconds as the entire team pushed forward for a corner kick. The Rams cleared the ball to the top of the penalty box where rookie goalkeeper James Belshaw waited. The goalie stepped up and struck the ball well, but it was blocked over the goal to end the game in a scoreless draw.

After nearly a week of practicing twice per day, the Blue Devils took to the field for the first time against a different opponent. Duke attacked from the opening whistle and generated a good look in the opening minutes.

As the two teams started to find their legs and rhythm in the first 10 minutes, the game settled down into good possession for both squads. Duke picked up its pace of play and really started to dominate the time of possession as it spent the majority of the final 25 minutes of the opening half in VCU's defensive third.

With nearly 30 minutes remaining in the opening session, Duke sent a flurry of shots at the Rams' goal. Josh Bienenfeld hit a low shot that hit the far post. Andrew Wenger's rebound chance was stopped by Gabriel Rodriguez and Temi Molinar's final attempt was blocked to keep Duke off the scoreboard.

Coming out of the break knotted at zero, Duke appeared to make it a 1-0 game just five minutes into the half. Finley ripped a shot on frame as Rodriguez came up with another save. Sophomore Graham Oxley was right on the doorstep to put in the rebound, but he was called offsides to keep it a 0-0 game.

VCU generated a couple good looks midway through the half, but junior goaltender Nick Tsipis was there to make the stops and maintain a shutout. Tsipis played nearly 58 minutes in goal before Belshaw spelled him for the final 32.

Duke continued to run at the Rams' defense and was able to earn the final corner kick of the game that nearly won the game in dramatic fashion.

The Blue Devils host Georgetown in the next exhibition game on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., at Koskinen Stadium.

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