Despite a first-round exit in the ACC Tournament last week, the Blue Devils performed well enough throughout the fall to earn a spot in the postseason competition that matters most.
Duke received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, qualifying for the seventh consecutive year, and will host Coastal Carolina tonight at 7 p.m. at Koskinen Stadium.
The No. 24 Blue Devils (9-5-4) suffered from poor execution against Boston College in the first round of the conference tournament Nov. 10 and were unable to convert any of their nine shots into goals. The 1-0 loss to the Eagles snapped Duke’s three-game winning streak and left the team looking for a final opportunity to redeem itself.
Fortunately, the Blue Devils have the chance to atone for their lackluster showing, but they face an opponent perhaps just as eager to make a splash in the NCAA Tournament. Coastal Carolina (12-7-2) has not won a tournament game since 2003, but the Chanticleers are peaking at the right time. They received an automatic berth after knocking off top-seeded High Point 3-1 in the Big South Tournament championship game—behind a hat trick from senior midfielder Joe Anderson.
Freshman Pedro Ribeiro, a product of Brazil, leads Coastal Carolina with six goals on the season, five of which were game-winning tallies. On the defensive end, goalkeeper Scott Angevine has posted seven shutouts on the year and received second-team All-Big South honors. But while the Chanticleers had little trouble dispatching their conference opponents throughout the season, they did not fare as well against teams from the ACC.
No. 3 Maryland trounced Coastal Carolina 5-0 Nov. 5, and the Chanticleers fell to N.C. State 3-1 back in October. The Blue Devils, however, were not able to beat either of those teams as well.
Still, it is fair to say that Coastal Carolina cannot match Duke’s offensive firepower. Sophomore Ryan Finley’s 17 goals are the second-most in the nation, and junior Chris Tweed-Kent is tied for sixth in the nation in assists per game. Perhaps most importantly, the Blue Devils will have the services of senior Cole Grossman tonight after he sustained a shin injury that kept him off the field for part of the second half against Boston College. Grossman is a vital cog in the Duke attacking machine, possessing the ability to split a defense with precise through balls from the midfield.
The Chanticleers and the Blue Devils have talent across the field. The only question remaining tonight is which side will be propelled to the next round.
—from staff reports
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