Bjornsson Scores Lates Goal; Duke Advances to NCAA Second Round

Thursday, November 20

Durham, N.C.

1 p.m.

Duke University

9-3-6, 4-2-2

FDU

13-5-3, 7-1-1

FDU

Duke

Ulfur Bjornsson takes penalty kick against FDU

Bjornsson Scores Lates Goal; Duke Advances to NCAA Second Round

11/20/2025 3:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)NCAA Tournament Bracket

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke forward Ulfur Bjornsson converted a penalty kick in the 88th minute, sending Duke past FDU, 1-0, in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils (9-3-6) advance to take on No. 3-seed Princeton in the second round, on Sunday, Nov. 23. The two teams are scheduled to kickoff at 4 p.m., with live streaming available on ESPN+.

Bjornsson scored his fifth goal of the season, increasing his career total to 28 tallies. Duke's defense did not allow FDU to register a shot on goal through the full 90 minutes, as Eryk Dymora recorded the eighth clean sheet of his season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke logged the first shot of the match in the fifth minute, with the header attempt by Alessandro Arlotti sailing just over the crossbar. FDU earned its first corner in the 10th minute but neither team allowed a high-danger chance through the first 15 minutes of action.
Possession continued to be battled for in the midfield through the next phase of the match, before Duke's next scoring opportunity in the 30th minute, where Aridon Racaj just missed the frame off a header.
The Blue Devils earned a corner kick shortly after the second half began but were unable to open the scoring in the 49th minute. Ulfur Bjornsson was the next Blue Devil to threaten, but his shot attempt in the 61st minute was turned aside by an FDU defender.
Drew Kerr tallied the match's first shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the contest remained scoreless after a diving stop from the Knights' goalkeeper.
The Blue Devils took the lead with a goal from the spot by Bjornsson in the 89th minute. Duke's defense did not allow a shot across the final 1:37, securing the victory.

UP NEXT

Duke moves on to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, traveling to No. 3-seed Princeton on Sunday, Nov. 23.
The Blue Devils and Tigers kickoff at 4 p.m., with live streaming available on ESPN+.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils men's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeMSOC".

#GoDuke