![]() Ultimately, what decided the game though was Duke’s ability to weather the storm and not crack under pressure, even if at times it seemed like it was coming close. Clemson tended to push play to the edges of the field, but Daley and sophomore left back Antino Lopez were there to keep Clemson from making real noise around the box even if it was able to lob one in the general direction of the goal. One of the biggest difference makers, however, was sophomore Amir Daley, who moved back to right back after playing as a midfielder for a while. Meanwhile, McGarvey did well in aerial battles and was particularly valuable defending the Tigers’ numerous cornerkicks. Early in the season, he had seemed shaky, making mistakes here and there, but against Clemson, Murphy was a force, shutting down zealous Tigers and moving the ball up the pitch. Murphy, one of just two senior starters along with Hamill, was especially dominant on ball Wednesday. “I thought Lewis and Ian were dynamite back there, and they had to be, because if they weren't sharp and on their game, we would have given up a goal or two,” Kerr said. Duke got somewhat lucky that Clemson mystifyingly struggled to make good use of its set-piece opportunities, but much credit needs to be given to the backline in how they stepped up to defend the Tigers’ opportunities. Ultimately fouling the Tigers 18 times, many very near the box, while also giving up 10 corners, the Blue Devils had to be on their toes all night. Still, for much of the game it felt like it was only a matter of time before Clemson tied it up, especially as the Blue Devils racked up fouls and yellow cards like they were going out of style. However, the Blue Devils bit back, playing edgy man-to-man defense in the box that forced a vast majority of the Tigers’ shots to be nonthreatening and their just six on-frame shots to mostly fall right into the hands of Duke goalie Eliot Hamill. Clemson brought the heat, outshooting Duke 27-4 through a combination of fast midfield play and a relentless shooting drive. Resilience would end up being the key to the game. ![]() “When you go up a goal, things change and you know you don't have to score, you just have to make sure that you're resilient,” Kerr said. Taking their time in Clemson’s end and passing the ball around, the Blue Devils thirsted for that lead-extending goal that would never come while also being aware that controlling Clemson was their number one priority. While Duke wouldn’t get many opportunities after that, the pressure Ulfarsson and Mohammed would create throughout the night was key in giving the Blue Devil defense a break from the Tigers’ onslaught of shots. Ulfarsson, never one to let a scoring opportunity go to waste, sniped the ball low-left, giving his team a one-goal lead that would ultimately carry the Blue Devils to victory. Duke had brought the ball across the field and was creating good pressure, when Clemson All-ACC Second Team defender Hamady Diop pushed Ulfarsson over as he was retreating from net-front traffic. Ulfarsson, newly deemed this year’s ACC Offensive Player of the Year, scored the game’s only goal on a penalty kick in the 28th minute. Ulfarsson, Stroud and Mohammed each received major awards, while Mesalles was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team, and each one contributed to Wednesday’s win in a big way. Four of them already have in the eyes of the ACC, with sophomores Thorleifur Ulfarsson and Peter Stroud along with freshmen Shakur Mohammed and Ruben Mesalles all receiving All-ACC honors Wednesday morning. Like any good underdog story, the Blue Devils have their cast of characters looking to prove themselves. And our guys are amped up and excited for the opportunity, and want to bring the trophy home.” It's been a long time our program to play in one of these big games where you can win a trophy. “I'm very proud of my team,” head coach John Kerr said after the game. ![]() Through 90 minutes of toil and trouble, battling against a hungry Clemson team at Historic Riggs Field in Clemson, S.C., Duke ultimately bested the Tigers 1-0 Wednesday in the semifinals of the ACC tournament, earning its first bid to the ACC Championship game since 2006 and officially entering the final act of its story. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |