The men's soccer team will host its first ACC game of the season at Koskinen Stadium Saturday night at 7 p.m. when Duke (2-1-1) faces the No. 2 Clemson Tigers (2-0-1).
"When it comes to ACC games, these are the most important," said freshman Danny Kramer, who already has a goal for the season. "All the teams in the ACC are ranked pretty high, and we are really pumped up for the games and ready to go."
Sophomore goalkeeper Justin Trowbridge can expect a barrage of shots from a Clemson offense, led by senior Dimelon Westfield, who has already scored seven goals in three games. With starting Duke defenseman Matt White injured, and starting freshman defenseman Ryan Kerlew restricted to limited minutes due to injury, Duke's defense will have to work especially hard to keep their team in the game.
"We have to switch the field quickly in the back, keep possession of the ball and most importantly play mistake free soccer," Trowbridge said. "We just have to step up and play well."
The burden of "playing well" will fall on senior midfielders and co-captains Donald McIntosh and Scott Noble. The Blue Devils are more than capable of controlling the ball in the midfield-once they actually have possession of it.
Clemson's physical play will be a definite obstacle for Duke-which is already hampered by injuries-making it very difficult to establish any form of control.
"The battle will be in the middle third of the field where we have to be strong and win our share of 50-50 balls," said head coach John Rennie.
If Duke finds a way to trap and settle the ball in the middle third, the team should be able to put together solid goal-scoring opportunities. The team has already created numerous chances this season and is ready to reestablish itself in.
Freshman playmaker Ian Carey who is leading the team in assists, will be looking for always active striker Jordan Cila.
Cila said that the team had been working on their finishing extra hard in practice after a couple of missed opportunities in the last few games.
The Blue Devils know they need to play extremely well to have any hope against Clemson's stingy defense, which has given up less than a goal a game behind star goalkeeper Doug Warren's outstanding play.
Duke will need to hit hard from the back in order to prove to the Tigers that the defense is ready to play, and more importantly is prepared for a physical match.
As long as there are no major mental errors in the back and Carey, McIntosh and Noble, can form a cohesive group in the midfield, the team will have a chance to steal a win and prove to the country that there is yet another powerful team in the ACC.
"I expect it to be a war," Rennie said.
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