Upcoming Event: Men's Soccer versus Pitt on October 3, 2025 at 8 p.m.
Men's Soccer
vs Pitt
Friday, October 2
Durham, N.C.
7:00 PM
Duke University
1
vs
3
Syracuse
Blue Devils Fall to Syracuse
10/2/2015 10:15:00 PM | Men's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C.—Syracuse registered a goal in the last minute of the first half and in the first minute of the second period to come away with a 3-1 ACC victory over the Blue Devils tonight at a rain-soaked Koskinen Stadium. Senior Zach Mathers registered the lone goal for Duke.
“We were second best tonight,” said head coach John Kerr. “They were first to the ball and came out with energy. They're a very good team and if you allow them to time and space to play they're going to hurt you.”
Duke (4-4-2, 0-3-1) struggled to get a rhythm in the first half with Syracuse moving the ball well and controlling the run of play. The Orange (7-2-1, 2-1-1) were intent on finding the hole behind the Blue Devil backline, but organized efforts from Duke kept the through balls from threatening as they skipped to Wilson Fisher in goal.
Syracuse got on the board in the 26th minute on a give-and-go between Julian Buescher and Liam Callahan. Buescher collected a one-touch feed from Callahan just inside the 18-yard box and slotted it into the lower right corner for the 1-0 lead.
Duke, unable to find connecting passes through the midfield and battling the wind, got an unfortunate bounce on an Orange free kick with 20 seconds left in the period and scored an own goal to put Syracuse ahead 2-0 at the half.
The second half started much the same way it ended for the Blue Devils as a shot off the foot of Callahan deflected off of Buescher and got past Fisher as he was diving to his right to make the save.
With the rain continuing to come down, Duke started finding more offensive success as the second half progressed. Jared Rist, on the back post for a corner kick, nearly put one in just inside the right post off to try to get one back.
Just over 15 minutes later Ciaran McKenna took a half chance on the wet field from 25 yards, forcing Syracuse goalie Hendrik Hilpert to make a diving save to give Duke the corner kick. Mathers served a dangerous ball into the six-yard box where a Syracuse defender went over the back of Markus Fjørtoft, resulting in a penalty kick. Mathers stepped up and calmly put it away to make it 3-1.
Duke continued to fight hard in the closing 15 minutes, but couldn't break through for a second or third goal. The Blue Devils outshot Syracuse 5-1 in the second half. Hilpert made the lone save of the game among the goalkeepers.
The Blue Devils return to action in a non-conference match with No. 23 Hofstra Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerCinematic Recap vs Notre Dame
Tuesday, November 12
A DOMINANT WIN OVER NOTRE DAME - MEN'S SOCCER
Tuesday, November 05
Duke Athletics: A Tour of Campus
Saturday, October 19
Welcome to Duke
Saturday, October 19
