Duke Surges in Second Half, Defeats Pitt 4-0

Friday, October 3

Durham, N.C.

8 p.m.

Duke University

7-0-3, 3-0-1

Pitt

4-5-2, 0-3-1

Pittsburgh

Duke

Duke Surges in Second Half, Defeats Pitt 4-0

10/3/2025 11:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. – The ninth-ranked Duke men's soccer team scored four times in the second half, highlighted by a brace from Ulfur Bjornsson, to race past Pittsburgh, 4-0, at Koskinen Stadium on Friday, Oct. 3. The Blue Devils (7-0-3, 3-0-1 ACC) notched their first win over the Panthers (4-5-2, 0-3-1 ACC) since the 2018 season and snapped a run of two consecutive draws in the series.

Alessandro Arlotti opened the scoring with his team-leading seventh goal of the season and was joined in the scoresheet 12 minutes later by freshman Aridon Racaj. The final two goals came from Bjornsson, who posted his first brace since last season and his second career brace in an ACC contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two teams used the opening minutes to settle into the run of play and Duke registered the first shot on goal in the 10th minute, with Max Simpson's attempt saved by the Pittsburgh goalkeeper.
The first half finished still scoreless, with Duke holding a 61-39 edge in possession and forcing two Pittsburgh saves. The Blue Devils' defense held the Panthers without a shot on goal and just one shot total in the opening 45 minutes.
Alessandro Arlotti opened the scoring in the 49th minute, heading in a cross from Kenan Hot that was set up by Jose Ortega.
Duke maintained the offensive pressure, with one off-target shot by Pittsburgh mixed in. Aridon Racaj doubled Duke's lead, heading in a looping cross from Drew Kerr, for Racaj's third goal of the campaign.
Jamie Kabuusu made a key save in the 63rd minute, jumping across an open goal face to deflect a Pittsburgh shot attempt from just outside the six-yard box.
Duke's defense continued to withstand Pittsburgh's offensive surge, holding off three Panthers' corners in a three-minute span. Ulfur Bjornsson paid off the defensive effort, slotting home his third goal of the season with a right-footed strike in the 79th minute.
Bjornsson capped his brace in transition, bending a shot past the diving goalkeeper off the left post and into the back of the net in the 85th minute.

NOTES

Duke won its fifth consecutive match during its current homestand and has not allowed a goal during the stretch of matches at home.
The last opponent to score against Duke was California, who the Blue Devils tied, 1-1, on Sept. 14.
Dating back to last season, the Blue Devils are unbeaten in their last 13 home matches, with an 11-0-3 ledger.
Kenan Hot assisted the first goal of the match, increasing his season total to four helpers.
The senior midfielder now has 10 points across Duke's last four contests.
Jose Ortega was also credited with an assist on the first goal, while Trevor Burns and Drew Kerr linked up to help set up the second goal.
Thomas Vold set up Bjornsson's first goal and Jamie Kabuusu earned a point with his assist of the second half of Bjornsson's brace.
Goalkeeper Eryk Dymora posted yet another clean sheet, his fourth straight, including a combined shutout against Howard.
The Blue Devils' netminder now has a 0.59 goals-against-average, good for second in the conference.