Duke Cruises Past NC State to Push Streak to Seven

Friday, October 7

Durham, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

NC State

Duke Cruises Past NC State to Push Streak to Seven

10/7/2011 10:32:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-Duke University junior Andrew Wenger netted three goals and assisted on another to lead the Blue Devils to a 4-2 victory over visiting NC State in ACC men's soccer action this evening at Koskinen Stadium. The hat trick was Wenger's second of the season and his 12th during Duke's seven-game unbeaten streak.

Wenger's seven points in the game tie his career-high and pushes him to 37 for the season. With 15 goals on the year, the native of Lititz, Pa., moves into a tie for seventh in single-season goals at Duke. His 37 points for the season rank tied for ninth all-time in Duke single season history.

"He gives us such a weapon up front," head coach John Kerr said. "He's always liable to create something on his own or he can build up play. It's really difficult to defend him and he also tracks defenses in numbers which allows space for other guys up front. So he's a huge weapon for us."

Offensively, Duke (7-4-1, 3-1-1 ACC) has been outstanding in its seven-game unbeaten streak. The Blue Devils have scored 24 goals in that span, which are just 10 shy of their overall total from a year ago. Duke has scored 11 goals against ACC squads this season.

NC State (4-6-2, 1-3-0 ACC) scored first with a strike to the right corner from Nazmi Albadawi from 15 yards out in the fourth minute. Zabarie Kollie and Ollie Kelly both registered assists on the play.

"We didn't change our game plan," Kerr said. "We were very offensive minded tonight from the start of the game and we made sure that we got on the ball and moved it around. Nothing changed because they scored a goal it just made us more determined to try to get the goal back quicker."

Duke responded just nine minutes later when Wenger collected a long ball from freshman Riley Wolfe and beat his defender into the box and rifled a shot past Wolfpack goalkeeper Fabian Otte at the near post. Sophomore Rob Dolot also earned an assist on the play with a nice give-and-go on the right flank to set the rookie defender up for the long service.

"First off, [the freshmen] have been fantastic players from day one," Wenger said. "They've gotten used to the speed of play and the physicality of it. And also more so than that we've grown as a team. We understand how we play and the style of play we're going to play, when we're going to go long, when we're going to come short. Those kinds of things have been really building and coming together."

Ten minutes later, senior Christopher Tweed-Kent put the Blue Devils in front, finishing a cross from Wenger on the right side. Wolfe got into the action again for Duke, finding Wenger on the right flank. Wenger, seeing a space in the penalty area, served the ball on the ground across the box and Tweed-Kent was there to finish at the back post for his second goal of the year.

Wenger notched his second score of the game in the 31st minute when his shot from 15 yards out hit the inside of the post and was deflected in by NC State. Tweed-Kent provided the pass into the penalty area for the goal.

The nation's top scorer closed out his evening in the second half with an easy finish after a cross from Joseph Pak on the right side. Wenger received the ball at the far post and calmly put it past Otte for the 4-1 lead.

NC State added one more to the scoreboard with 12 seconds remaining, earning a penalty kick. Albadawi finished the 12-yard shot into the left corner past a diving James Belshaw.

Duke held a 19-10 advantage in shots and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. In goal, Otte finished with eight saves, while Belshaw had two. NC State also had a team save, clearing a ball off the line late in the second half.

The Blue Devils will play again on Oct. 14 at ACC rival Maryland at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN3.com.