Completed Event: Men's Soccer at #14 Akron on November 30, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 2
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Final
Men's Soccer
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at #14 Akron
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Early Goals Stand Up in Win over Pitt
10/24/2014 10:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. — A pair of Blue Devils registered their first career goals as the Duke men's soccer team held off Pittsburgh 2-1 on senior night at Koskinen Stadium. Freshman Markus Fjørtoft and senior Jake Butwin tallied the goals to give Duke its third ACC win of the year.
Duke (6-8-1, 3-4-0 ACC) raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes on goals from Fjørtoft and Butwin, respectively, and was able to hold off a feisty Panther squad for the win. The Blue Devils pick up three points in conference play to push their total to nine points and a spot in the ACC Tournament.
“The senior night was a big deal for us,” said head coach John Kerr. “It's a very emotional night and they really brought a lot of energy. We started all eight seniors tonight and they did a great job. They got a two goal lead for us and did a fabulous job for us. I was really pleased with their efforts, their physicality and their movement around the pitch was excellent. They gave us a great head start.”
With all eight seniors in the starting lineup, Duke played with an increased intensity to start the game. Pittsburgh (4-8-4, 0-5-2) had a dangerous shot sail over the bar in the first minute, but it was all Blue Devils after that.
Nick Palodichuk had Duke's first shot of the evening blocked and sophomore Brody Huitema had his opportunity stopped by Panther goalkeeper Dan Lynd. However, just over a minute later Duke drew a foul on the left touchline to put senior captain Sean Davis in familiar territory on a set piece.
Davis, lethal in dead ball situations from 30 yards, served a perfectly driven ball into the penalty box where Fjørtoft headed it past Lynd for his first career goal as a Blue Devil and a 1-0 Duke lead 6:45 into the contest.
Less than three minutes later, Butwin finished a fabulous display of combination play to put the Blue Devils up 2-0 with fewer than 10 minutes elapsed. Senior Jack Coleman, from the left sideline, hit the feet of Huitema in just on top of the penalty area. Seeing the open space, the Vancouver native touched the ball through to Butwin who poked it home for the score.
Duke, sporting its first 2-0 lead in a first half this season, continued to pressure the Panthers but was unable to find the net again in the final 35 minutes of the period.
The Blue Devils didn't come into the second half with the same enthusiasm as they started the game and Pittsburgh took advantage. The Panthers' Patrick Dixon fired a rocket from distance that Duke goaltender Wilson Fisher blocked away. Dan Prete was right there to put the rebound in to cut the Duke lead in half, 2-1, with 33 minutes remaining in the second half.
Pittsburgh, playing with a renewed energy, pressed on in search of the equalizer for much of the remainder of the game. The Blue Devils nearly got a third goal a couple of times off the feet of seniors Coleman and Matt Slotnick, but were just shy of the target.
Duke's defense did well to hold the Panthers to just two shots in the second half despite their foes' urgency to even the score. The Blue Devils managed five shots in the second 45 minutes, but only put one on frame.
Fisher finished with three saves to post his first career victory in goal. Duke outshot Pitt 14-7 for the game and Lynd making seven saves.
“It feels really good [to get the start tonight],” Fisher said. “I've been waiting my whole career for this moment to just run out of there to half field. I really enjoyed it.”
Duke closes out its home schedule Tuesday night against Georgia State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., on Blue Devil Network.
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