Blue Devils Fall, 4-3, in Battle with Furman

Thursday, August 27

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

2-1-0, 0-0-0

Furman

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Furman	2	2	4
Duke	2	1	3

Blue Devils Fall, 4-3, in Battle with Furman

8/27/2026 9:49:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke men's soccer team fell, 4-3, to Furman at Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium on Thursday night. The Blue Devils (2-1) suffered their first loss of the season after the 2025 College Cup participant Paladins (1-1-1) netted three consecutive goals to grab control of the match.

Ulfur Bjornsson posted a first-half brace to lead Duke's offense, while freshman Jack Ottley logged a pair of assists for the first multi-assist outing of his career. Tucker Smith scored a late goal for the Blue Devils, the first of his career.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Furman opened the scoring in the first five minutes, posting the first goal of the night with 40:50 on the clock.
The Blue Devils equalized just six minutes later, with Ulfur Bjornsson knocking in a loose ball in the six-yard box. Jack Ottley was credited with an assist on the goal, the freshman's second helper of the season.
The senior striker put Duke in front, 2-1, in the 19th minute, slotting home a breakaway attempt. Julius Suber picked up the assist, his first of the year.
A right-footed strike from outside the 18-yard box by Furman leveled the score at 2-2 in the 31st minute. The two teams remained tied after 45 minutes, entering the locker room with the same scoreline.
The run of play opened up following intermission, as the two teams exchanged scoring opportunities in transition.
The Paladins took a 3-2 lead in the 68th minute and doubled their advantage in the 76th.
Duke pulled one back with just under four minutes remaining, as Tucker Smith headed in his first career goal off a corner kick taken by Ottley. The Blue Devils earned a corner kick in the final 30 seconds of the match but were unable to convert the set piece for a second time.

NOTES

Ulfur Bjornsson increased his season goal total to three and now has 31 total goals in his Duke career.
His brace in the first 20 minutes of the contest gave the senior his seventh multi-goal match of his career and first since scoring twice against Pittsburgh on Oct. 3, 2025.
Jack Ottley registered two assists and is the first Duke freshman with a multi-assist outing since Maxwell Simpson posted a pair of assists against Syracuse on Sept. 19, 2025.
Duke started five freshmen on Thursday night, with Ottley joined in the starting XI by his classmates Max Deisenhofer, Max Steelman, Logan Moniz and Ethan Congleton.
The last time the Blue Devils started at least five freshmen was on April 3, 2021, during the spring portion of the split calendar due to COVID-19. Duke's starting lineup that match included Lewis McGarvey, Antino Lopez, Nick Pariano, Thorleifur Ulfarsson, Peter Stroud and Amir Daley.

UP NEXT

No. 19 Duke (2-1) hosts No. 6 Georgetown (2-0-1) at Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 30. First touch is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the match will air live on ACC Network.
Fans can buy tickets here.

#GoDuke