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Men's Soccer
vs Elon
Friday, September 18
Clemson, S.C.
7:00 PM
Duke University
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at
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Clemson
No. 14 Clemson Holds Off No. 16 Blue Devils, 2-1
9/18/2015 9:06:00 PM | Men's Soccer
CLEMSON, S.C.—Duke suffered its first ACC men's soccer setback tonight, falling to 14th-ranked Clemson 2-1 in a hard-fought battle at Historic Riggs Field. Sophomore Brian White had the goal for the No. 16 Blue Devils.
Duke falls to 4-2-1 overall and 0-1-1 in ACC play, while Clemson improves to 5-1-1 and 1-1-0 in conference action. The Tigers scored the game-winner in the 55th minute and held off a furious charge from the Blue Devils for the win.
"I thought it was a game of two halves," said head coach John Kerr. "I thought they clearly dominated the first half and I thought we were the best team in the second half."
The early minutes of the first half were played in the middle of the field as both teams tried to establish a rhythm to the game. After seemingly clearing Clemson's first corner kick of the night out of danger an unlucky deflection sent the ball into the middle of the field 20 yards from goal. Saul Chinchilla tapped it to Oliver Shannon who saw a slight opening and slipped it into the low right corner for the 1-0 lead in the 12th minute of action.
The Tigers continued to control the run of play as the Blue Devils struggled to get a hold of the ball in the middle of the field. Duke goalkeeper Wilson Fisher made a nice glove save minutes later to keep it at 1-0 and as the half continued the Blue Devils started to settle down and get into the flow of the game.
Duke created opportunities by attacking the flanks and had the better of play in the final 15 minutes, but couldn't capitalize as it headed into halftime trailing the Tigers 1-0.
Clemson came out attacking in the second half, getting two early shots off. Fisher made a diving save to his right on the second chance.
The Blue Devils broke through in the 54th minute with a beautiful ball from sophomore Macario Hing-Glover on the right flank. Hing-Glover perfectly put a ball in behind the Clemson backline for White to run onto and finish with his left foot for the equalizer.
"We changed out mindset a little bit i [in the second half]," Kerr said. "We were too passive in the first half and allowed them too much space. Their team movement is very impressive and it caused a lot of problems.Certainly we were the better team from that second goal on."
Less than a minute later, Clemson used and excellent give-and-go in the right corner to set up finish from T.J. Casner to put the Tigers back in front 2-1 in the 55th minute.
Jeremy Ebobisse nearly tied the game in the 60th minute as his strike from 18 yards was just tipped over the bar by Clemson goalie Andrew Tarbell. The Blue Devils continued to play well and had a pair of fantastic chances in the waning minutes.
The first came off the foot of rookie midfielder Ciaran McKenna. The Scotland native took one from 25 yards out saved by Tarbell. Just a minute later, Ebobisse got loose in the box and beat Tarbell, but a Clemson defender was on the line to clear the ball away keeping the Tigers ahead 2-1.
Clemson held a 14-9 advantage in shots for the game. Both Fisher and Tarbell finished with five saves apiece.
Duke is back in action next Friday, Sept. 25 against rival and No. 3 North Carolina at Fetzer Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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