After completing their ACC season, the Blue Devils looked to a pair of nonconference games for an opportunity to smooth out some last wrinkles before the ACC tournament. Things did not go as they planned last night against Elon, though, as they fought to a 2-2 draw.
The Blue Devils (9-6-2) were unable to best the Phoenix (6-10-2) Tuesday evening at Koskinen Stadium, and although one point is valuable for Duke, the result did not meet head coach John Kerr’s expectations.
“It’s going to make us focus on the final third and getting sharper in those areas, get the timing right,” Kerr said. “For sure we’re going to work on that this week.”
Duke allowed Elon to control the tempo of the game from the start, as the Blue Devils did not register a legitimate scoring chance until the game’s 16th minute. Elon very nearly scored four minutes later, but thanks to solid goalkeeping by James Belshaw, the game remained scoreless. Duke finally commenced the scoring when junior striker Andrew Wenger took the ball down the left sideline and blasted his 17th goal of the season past the keeper from 15 yards out. Duke picked up its play following the first goal, but despite another great chance by Wenger to score from virtually the same spot in the 32nd minute, the Blue Devils went into the half leading 1-0.
Elon struck back with an equalizer in the 47th minute when junior Chris Thomas converted his sixth goal of the season, burying a header just in front of the goal. The Phoenix then took the lead when Thomas ran down a long ball and deposited it past Belshaw just three minutes later. As Duke searched for the tying goal, the team became increasingly frustrated and physical, and the referees took notice, handing Joe Pak a yellow card in the 57th minute. Duke finally got its chance in the 63rd minute, when Chris Tweed-Kent made a nifty move, freeing himself up for a cross from the left sideline. The goal was scored by freshman forward Matt Slotnick to tie the game 2-2. The goal was Slotnick’s first collegiate tally, in just his fifth game.
“I knew that Chris is good at taking people one on one. He put me in a good position to score,” Slotnick said. “I think I’m finally able to show my team that I can really play.”
The Blue Devils had several opportunities to score over the final third of the game but could not convert.
The action continued back and forth over the course of the first overtime period. In the 102nd minute Duke was awarded a free kick from just outside Elon’s 18-yard box, but the shot bent wide. Soon after, in the 103rd minute, defender Sebastien Ibeagha was issued a red card and sent off the field. Playing a man down, the Blue Devils were unable to break the deadlock with a game-winning goal.
“Well you always want to win, but they’re a good team,” Kerr said. “They’re far more talented than their record indicates. They attacked well and played good chances.”
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