After a strong first-half performance, the Blue Devils surrendered two goals to Creighton within a two-minute span, eliminating them from the NCAA Tournament and preventing a repeat trip to the College Cup.
No. 6 Duke (12-5-3) faced a different offensive strategy from No. 11 Creighton (15-4-3) in the second period and could not counter it, losing, 2-1, Nov. 22.
"They played a long ball game in the second half," Duke head coach John Rennie said. "They changed the way they were playing, and it was effective for them."
The Bluejays posted 11 of their 15 shots in the latter 45 minutes of the game, registering two goals near the midway point of the half.
At the 64:58 mark, defender Matt Wieland sent a low 25-yard shot from the right end of the field that slipped past Blue Devil goalkeeper Justin Papadakis on the near side. Less than two minutes later, a pass from Wieland to the right side of the net hit forward Jarod Tarver, and the junior netted the decisive goal.
Duke reacted with a sense of urgency, trying to push the ball into the opposing team's defensive end. The Blue Devils generated several opportunities but could not get shots on net. Creighton goalkeeper Matt Allen grabbed Duke's final corner kick with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation.
A low shot from midfielder Michael Videira with 2:36 remaining in the game-the last chance for Duke before time ran out--hooked just wide of the far post.
"It's hard," Videira said. "We had aspirations to go far. It's pretty hard."
The disappointing second-half display was characteristic of Duke's season. The Blue Devils held opposing teams to just two goals in the first period all season, but allowed 22 second-half goals.
"We spent hours and hours watching tapes of them," Creighton head coach Bob Warming said. "We talked about the second half. We had the visual image of our guys scoring in the second half like the players on the tapes."
Duke's only goal came at the 14:59 mark when forward Spencer Wadsworth netted an open shot with the goalie charging at him.
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