After closing the season with three consecutive wins, several members of the No. 19 Blue Devils were recognized on the ACC all-conference team, led by a pair of stud sophomores.
Ryan Finley, who scored 17 of Duke's 32 goals during the regular season, was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Finley leads the nation in goals and has scored a hat trick in three separate games in addition to six game-winners. He is the second Blue Devil in three years to earn the award, joining 2008 winner Mike Grella, who is currently playing in England.
Andrew Wenger was recognized as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, marking the second consecutive season he has earned all-ACC honors. In 2009, Wenger was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and has continued his standout defensive play, leading a Blue Devil back line that has conceded 0.88 goals per game during the season. Wenger has been the epitome of durability during his career, never missing a start.
This is the first time Duke has captured both offensive and defensive player awards.
Joining Wenger and Finley on the all-ACC first team was midfielder Cole Grossman. The senior scored the game-winning goal in the Blue Devils' thrilling season finale against Wake Forest and is second on the team with 24 points--eight goals and eight assists--for the season. Sophomore goalkeeper James Belshaw made the second team after making 66 saves and recording four shutouts. His best game came against current No. 1 Louisville when he made 15 saves in what head coach John Kerr called "the best performance I've seen live."
Midfielder Jonathan Aguirre and defender Sebastian Ibeagha made the all-freshman team. Aguirre started in 15 games and doled out two assists while Ibeagha has started alongside Wenger at centerback 13 times.
Duke plays next against No. 21 Boston College in the first round of the ACC Tournament Wednesday in Cary, N.C.
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