M Soccer

Early Monday evening, the Blue Devils waited in anticipation as they listened to ESPNews to learn of their seeding in the NCAA tournament. Although the team had hoped for a first-round bye, Duke instead will have to play Winthrop Thursday at Koskinen Stadium in the tournament’s first round.

However, the team can seek solace in the fact that it is playing the first round at home, where it was undefeated this year except for an overtime loss to N.C State.

Coming into the 2009 season, no one expected the Blue Devils to start 4-0 and carry the momentum into a 12-5 regular season.

After losing four starting seniors, one of whom was All-American and ACC Offensive Player of the Year Mike Grella, No. 15 Duke was supposed to be heading into a down year. But with the emergence of two freshmen, forward Ryan Finley and defender Andrew Wenger, along with greater team chemistry, the Blue Devils were able to surprise some teams.

With postseason seeding implications on the line, the No. 11 Blue Devils (12-4-0, 4-3-0 in the ACC) wrap up the regular season with a showdown at No. 4 Wake Forest (12-3-2, 4-2-1) tonight at 7 p.m..

Duke, currently with 12 points in the ACC, could top the standings and win the conference title with a victory Friday and a loss or tie by North Carolina. The Tar Heels, on 13 points, play Clemson, the ACC’s worst team with only six points.