Huitema's Three Points Lead Duke Past Virginia Tech

Friday, October 31

Blacksburg, Va.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Virginia Tech

Huitema's Three Points Lead Duke Past Virginia Tech

10/31/2014 9:59:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Duke sophomore striker Brody Huitema tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Blue Devils to a 2-0 win at Virginia Tech in the regular season finale. Huitema registered his second straight game winner for the Blue Devils.

"It was a good win for us overall," head coach John Kerr. "It's good to get Brian White on the scoresheet and Brody with a goal and an assist. It's nice to get the away win for the team."

Huitema, with three points on the night, pushed his season total to 15. He has scored at least one point in each of the past five games and has 10 overall in that stretch. Senior goalkeeper Wilson Fisher recorded his first career shutout with four saves.

Duke picks up its third straight win and improves to 4-4-0 in league play and 8-8-1 overall on the year. The win secures the right to host an ACC Tournament first round game Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. The seeding will be officially announced by the ACC office at the conclusion of the games Saturday night. Duke's opponent will be determined by the outcome of the Virginia – North Carolina match.

Duke, after Fisher made a great save to deflect a shot off the post in the first 12 minutes, grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute from the red-hot foot of Huitema. After teams had traded play in the middle of the field, Matt Slotnick got loose on the right flank and served the ball across the box where Huitema one-timed it back to the right post. The tally was his fifth of the year and fourth in the past five games.

The Blue Devils dodged a bullet moments later when it appeared John Ricardo had evened the score. However, the referee disallowed the goal to keep Duke up 1-0. Duke nearly answered with a second goal in the 35th minute when Markus Fjørtoft's header off of a corner kick was cleared off the line by the Hokies.

The Blue Devils, steady in the back for much of the half, allowed just two more shots in the half to head into the locker room with the lead for the fifth time of the season.

Sporting a 3-1-0 record when leading at the half, Duke started the second half on its heels as Virginia Tech came out firing. The Hokies forced Fisher to make consecutive saves to keep the shutout alive and Diego Menendez headed one just over the bar.

Duke settled into its rhythm after a shaky start to the second period and tallied the ever important second goal in the 62nd minute to go ahead 2-0. Huitema, continuing his stellar evening, slotted the ball into the penalty area for rookie Brian White to slide home for his first career goal as a Blue Devil.

The Hokies (7-7-2, 2-5-1) pressed forward in the final 20-plus minutes, but the backline anchored by seniors Nat Eggleston, Chase Keesling and Fisher stayed strong to post the squad's third shutout of the season.

"They stepped up the pressure, but we held on and did great down the stretch," Kerr said. "Wilson [Fisher] was great for us tonight."

Virginia Tech had a narrow 12-10 edge in shots. An impressive seven of Duke's 10 attempts were on frame as Ben Lundgaard finished with four saves.

Duke begins postseason play Nov. 5 in the ACC Tournament first round. The Blue Devils will be either the No. 7 or No. 8 seed. Complete details will be announced following the conclusion of Saturday night's games.

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