Blue Devils Fall in ACC Tournament Semifinal

CARY, N.C.-Boston College registered a goal in the 66th minute and held of Duke in the final 25 minutes to earn a 2-1 victory in the ACC Men's Soccer Tournament semifinals this evening at Wake Med Soccer Park. The 13th-ranked Eagles advance to the championship match on Sunday, November 11.

Freshman Nat Eggleston scored Duke's goal in the first half with senior Joe Pak providing the assist. Boston College got goals from Amit Aburmad and Diego Medina-Mendez for the win.

The first half was an even affair with Duke and Boston College trading periods of momentum. The Blue Devils, who controlled the run of play early on, capitalized first in the 15th minute. Earning a corner kick off of a Palodichuk shot, Pak lined up to take the corner kick.

Pak, serving in a corner for the first time this season, hit a ball that Boston College goalkeeper Justin Luthy couldn't control the service and Eggleston rifled a shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the goal. The tally was his second of the year.

"We had Nat Eggleston in front of the keeper and he made it difficult for the keeper to catch it cleanly and he dropped it and Nat turned and smashed it in the back of the net, which was obviously a good start for us," head coach John Kerr said.

The Eagles picked up their play following the goal and started to gain momentum. Kyle Bekker nearly evened the score with a rocket, but Duke goalie James Belshaw was able to get just enough of it to deflect it off the crossbar and over the goal for a corner kick.

Boston College capitalized on its pressure at the 25:53 mark when Aburmad found himself open on the back post. He received a long ball from Colin Murphy from the right side and one-timed it into the left corner to make it a 1-1 game.

Both teams traded periods of momentum in the final 20 minutes and headed into the locker room all square at one apiece. Duke and Boston College both had six shots in the opening 45 minutes with both Luthy and Belshaw making three saves apiece.

Duke came out in the second half and was able to control play, but unable to find open looks in the final third with the Eagles' constant pressure. The Blue Devils defense, however, also was successful in keeping Boston College's attack out of any kind of rhythm.

"We were more compact defensively [in the second half]," Kerr said. "We got our lines a little bit closer and then we were more dynamic when we had possession of the ball. We caused a lot of problems in their end. And to be fair to them, they're very organized and they get a lot of men behind the ball. When the game is even they can do that, but we wanted to get a lead like we did. But we didn't make them pay enough in that first half after getting that lead and getting a second goal, which is crucial."

Against the run of play, Boston College earned a corner kick from the left side. Bekker stepped out and served the ball over the first defender's head at the near post and Medina-Mendez was right there to knock it home for what proved to be the game-winner.

Both squads finished with 10 shots each in the game. Belshaw had five saves, while Luthy made five stops for the Eagles. Duke won the corner kick battle, 6-3, and both squads scored goals off of a corner kick.

Duke will await the NCAA Tournament announcement on Monday, November 14 at 4:30 p.m., on NCAA.com.