Duke Earns Physical Win, 2-1, in Season Opener

Thursday, August 20

Durham, N.C.

8 p.m.

Duke University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Seton Hall

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Seton Hall	1	0	1
Duke	1	1	2

Ari Racaj scores a goal against Seton Hall

Duke Earns Physical Win, 2-1, in Season Opener

8/20/2026 11:39:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. - In a match that featured 33 combined fouls and nine total cautions, Duke men's soccer emerged with a 2-1 victory over Seton Hall in the 2026 season opener. The Blue Devils (1-0) fell behind early after the Pirates (0-1) found the back of the net in the fifth minute, but Duke equalized in the 38th minute and started the second half quickly with a goal in the 51st.

Ari Racaj and Jack Ottley netted Duke's goals, with Racaj scoring in a season opener for the second consecutive year, while Ottley tallied a goal in his first collegiate start.

The Blue Devils return to Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 23, hosting Cal Baptist. The match is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m., with live streaming available on ACC Network Extra.

HOW IT HAPPENED

As both teams settled into the run of play, Seton Hall struck quickly, posting the first goal of the night off a free kick. A floating service was headed into the back of the net, giving the visitors an early 1-0 advantage.
The Blue Devils started to apply pressure on the offensive end of the field, with Ulfur Bjornsson and Jack Ottley both firing shots that required a strong save from the Seton Hall goalkeeper.
Ari Racaj was one of four Duke substitutes who entered in the 33rd minute and he quickly made an impact, heading in the Blue Devils' equalizing goal just over five minutes later. Racaj was set up with a free-kick service from freshman Ethan Congleton, who had also entered the game in the 33rd minute alongside Racaj.
The two teams remained deadlocked after 45 minutes of action, but Duke promptly broke the deadlock after intermission.
Ottley put his name in the scoresheet with his first collegiate goal, beating the keeper in the 51st minute. The freshman began the action with an entry pass to Bjornsson, who held up the run of play and left the ball for Ottley, who streaked into the 18-yard box and slotted home the goal.
The intensity ratcheted up from there, with six yellow cards and 14 combined fouls tallied across the final 40 minutes. Duke's defense didn't allow a shot on goal for the entire second half, securing the 2-1 victory to open the season.

NOTES

Since 2021, Duke is undefeated in season openers, going 5-0-1 in that span.
Ari Racaj scored in the first match of the season for the second year in a row, after tallying a goal as a freshman in 2025 against San Diego.
Both Duke goals included contributions from freshmen, with Ethan Congleton logging the assist on the first and Jack Ottley scoring the second.
The Blue Devils started six new faces from last season's roster, consisting of four freshmen (Ottley, Max Deisenhofer, Logan Moniz and Max Steelman) and two transfers (Jonah Wolf and Emmanuel Frimpong).
Five Duke players logged the full 90 minutes, with Deisenhofer earning the win in goal in his first start, while being joined by Wolf, Frimpong, Nikolai Bull Jorgensen and Ian Hecker as those who played all 90 possible minutes.

UP NEXT

Duke (1-0) plays its second game of the John Rennie Invitational on Sunday, Aug. 23, against Cal Baptist (1-0).
The Blue Devils and Lancers square off at 3:30 p.m., with live streaming available on ACC Network Extra.

#GoDuke