Better late than never.
After starting the season 1-4, and losing its first ACC game, Duke appears to be hitting its stride after beating Wake Forest 4-1 Friday for its third consecutive victory, and its second in the conference.
After tallying two more scores against the Demon Deacons, Andrew Wenger has scored seven times during the Blue Devils’ win streak. It was Wake Forest (2-4-1, 1-2 in the ACC), however, not Wenger, who set the tone early in the match. The Demon Deacons came out attacking, keeping Duke (4-4-0, 2-1) on its heels throughout the first ten minutes of the game, generating multiple scoring chances that goalkeeper James Belshaw, who accounted for five saves on the night, swatted away.
“We had a slow start to the first half and we kind of rode our luck because Wake had a couple of really good chances,” head coach John Kerr said. “After that we came into the game a lot more and we finally put our offense in gear and caused them some problems.”
As the opening period continued, Wenger—though unable to score off of his three shots—began creating opportunities for his teammates in the box. The junior swung a dangerous cross into the middle of the 18-yard box box in the 28th minute and in the swarm of bodies, Wake Forest defender Danny Wenzel was called for a deliberate handball, giving the Blue Devils a penalty kick. Sophomore midfielder Jonathan Aguirre drilled his shot past the keeper for his first goal of the season, putting Duke on top 1-0.
“We were excited knowing that anybody could step up and make a penalty kick,” Kerr said. “We also have that weapon in James Belshaw, knowing he’s very good at stopping penalty kicks.”
After the opening score swung the momentum the Blue Devils’ way, the Demon Deacons pressed hard for an equalizer, earning an opportunity in the 34th minute following a Duke foul in their own 18-yard box. Belshaw responded by diving to the right and knocking the penalty kick away, preserving the Blue Devils’ 1-0 lead.
“I have my little things I look for in penalties,” Belshaw said. “I was quietly confident [Luca Gimenez] was going that way. I remember here last year we beat them 2-1. [Gimenez] took the penalty and scored. I think we’re even now.”
Wenger finally broke through in the 52nd minute, weaving through the Wake Forest defense to notch his ninth goal of the season. Up 2-0, Duke started to focus on defense as the Demon Deacons continued to press in an attempt to get back in the game. Physical play continued throughout the match, hitting its peak when Jared Watts received a red card for a late tackle on Aguirre. The ejection seemed to inspire Wake Forest, though, and Ben Newnam scored the team’s first goal—his second of the season—on a cross from Andy Lubahn in the 74th minute.
With the Blue Devils’ lead trimmed to one goal, Wenger notched his second goal of the game—and ACC-leading tenth goal of the season—off a pass from freshman Riley Wolfe just a minute later.
“I think he’s really learning the position and learning when he can use certain aspects of his game,” Kerr said. “There’s still more to improve on, but when he knows that there’s space in behind and he’s in full flight it’s a beautiful thing to watch.”
With the Demon Deacons throwing all their forces forward, Duke was able to break through and add another tally in the 82nd minute when freshman Andrew Morales dribbled circles around Wake Forest goalkeeper Michael Lisch before dishing the ball off to senior Joe Pak, who blasted the ball into the open net from 18 yards for the first goal of his Blue Devil career.
Duke pelted Wake Forest with a season-high 23 shots on the night en route to scoring four goals or more for the third consecutive game. The Blue Devils now sit tied for second in the ACC behind Maryland, the top-ranked team in the country. But despite the convincing victory, the team prefers to concentrate on where they need to improve, mainly on the defensive end.
“[I’m] disappointed with the goal [and] would have liked to get the shutout,” Belshaw said.
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