Blue Devils Pull Away from Cal Baptist, 3-1

Sunday, August 23

Durham, N.C.

3:30 p.m.

Duke University

2-0-0, 0-0-0

California Baptist University

1-1-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
California Baptist	1	0	1
Duke	1	2	3

Ethan Congleton attacks for Duke men's soccer

Blue Devils Pull Away from Cal Baptist, 3-1

8/23/2026 6:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. - The Duke men's soccer team secured its second win of the opening weekend, defeating Cal Baptist, 3-1, at Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 23. The Blue Devils (2-0) scored a pair of second-half goals to separate from the visiting Lancers (1-1). Ulfur Bjornsson opened Duke's scoring in the first half, the senior's first goal of the season, while the freshman duo of Ethan Congleton and Logan Moniz tallied their first goals in a Duke uniform following halftime.

In goal, freshman Max Deisenhofer earned his second win, making three total saves.

The Blue Devils turn their attention to a pair of ranked clashes at home, hosting 2025 College Cup participant Furman on Thursday, Aug. 27, followed by Georgetown on Sunday, Aug. 30. Both the Paladins and Hoyas were ranked inside the top five of the national preseason poll heading into the 2026 campaign. Fans can buy tickets here.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two teams worked to settle into the run of play at the early stage of the contest, with Duke earning the first corner of the afternoon in the eighth minute. Emmanuel Frimpong tested the visiting goalkeeper off the cross, forcing a diving save. Duke's goalie, Max Deisenhofer, made his first save of the match just over a minute later, calmly collecting an attempt by the Lancers.
Ulfur Bjornsson opened the scoring in the 16th minute with the first goal of his senior campaign. Freshman Logan Moniz pushed the ball up the left wing and crossed the ball into the box, where Bjornsson was waiting to flick the ball into the back of the net.
The visitors leveled the score in the 25th minute with an unassisted goal.
Neither side was able to generate a true scoring opportunity the remainder of the first half and the two teams entered halftime deadlocked at 1-1.
The Blue Devils opened the second half on the attack, with Ari Racaj nearly heading in his second goal of the season in the 51st minute. Duke didn't have to wait much longer for the go-ahead goal, as Ethan Congleton found the back of the net less than three minutes later in the 54th minute. The goal sequence began with Ian Hecker, who received a secondary assist after his long throw-in fell to the feet of Bjornsson, who earned the primary assist by flicking the ball forward to Congleton.
Duke doubled its lead in the 61st minute courtesy of Logan Moniz. Following a possession battle won by Jonah Wolf, the ball was served across the penalty box to Moniz by his classmate, Jack Ottley, and Moniz beat the keeper with a right-footed shot through contact.
Deisenhofer was forced to make one more save, as he stymied a Cal Baptist attack in the 76th minute to maintain Duke's multi-goal advantage.

NOTES

The scoring trio of Ulfur Bjornsson, Ethan Congleton and Logan Moniz all tallied their first goal of the 2026 season.
Bjornsson now has 29 goals in his career.
Bjornsson and Moniz both posted three-point outings, adding an assist during Sunday's contest.
Across the two games of opening weekend, Bjornsson has a total of four points, courtesy of one goal and two assists.
A trio of freshmen have three points, with Congleton and Moniz joined by Jack Ottley.
Ian Hecker and Jonah Wolf both recorded their first point in a Duke uniform.

UP NEXT

Duke remains at home for a pair of ranked matches, hosting No. 3 Furman on Thursday, Aug. 27, followed by No. 5 Georgetown on Sunday, Aug. 30. The Blue Devils and Paladins square off at 7 p.m., streaming on ACC Network Extra, while the second match of the weekend will air live on ACC Network at 6 p.m.
Fans can buy tickets here.

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