Duke Falls to No. 18 North Carolina, 1-0

Sunday, April 11

Durham, N.C.

7 P.M.

Duke University

4-10-3, 4-7-1

North Carolina

7-4-3, 7-2-3

North Carolina

Duke

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke Falls to No. 18 North Carolina, 1-0

4/11/2021 10:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

DURHAM – Eighteenth-ranked North Carolina scored a goal in the 32nd minute and held off the Blue Devils in the second half to come away with a 1-0 victory in ACC men's soccer action in Koskinen Stadium.

Duke honored its group of seniors – Jack Doran, Matthias Frick, Nicolas Macri, Stephen O'Connell, Michael Reis, and Daniel Wright – prior to the final home game for the group. The six have shown the utmost dedication over the course of their careers, helping the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances, while also earning a combined 18 ACC Academic Honor Roll awards.

The Blue Devils started the game on the front foot, putting early pressure on the Tar Heels. Duke earned multiple corner kicks in the opening minutes, but couldn't connect as North Carolina (7-4-3, 7-2-3) cleared the ball from danger.

North Carolina started to get into the game after about 15 minutes and Jonathan Jimenez nearly put the Tar Heels up, hitting the crossbar with a shot from 20 yards out.

Duke responded minutes later with a great piece of passing to create its best chance of the night before the offside flag went up on the far touchline.

The play started at midfield for the Blue Devils as Wright took a pass from Doran, turned and ran at the North Carolina defense before feeding a perfectly weighted through ball to rookie Thorleifur Ulfarsson who was just one step ahead of the UNC backline resulting in the offside call from the assistant referee.

The Tar Heels broke through less than 10 minutes later with good combination play from Alex Rose and Tim Schels. Rose collected a pass off a throw-in and tapped it to Schels who deftly slipped a pass to Rose between a pair of Duke defenders six yards from goal. The senior forward finished it past the near post for the 1-0 advantage at the half.

Duke came out in the second half with a different look as rookie Antino Lopez moved out to the right flank in hopes of finding more offense. The change in formation worked as the Blue Devils had much of the possession in the second stanza.

The Blue Devils controlled the midfield and moved the ball well, but again couldn't find that finishing touch in the final third.

North Carolina nearly doubled its lead in the 58th minute, but Key White's header was denied by both the woodwork and Duke goalkeeper Eliot Hamill, who came off the bench for the second period.

Duke freshman Miguel Ramirez came off the bench in the second half to provide a spark. The rookie winger provided pressure on the North Carolina defense and had a fabulous backheel pass inside the penalty box to Ulfarsson. The Tar Heel defense recovered well and tackled the ball away for a Duke corner kick.

Duke nearly equalized again moments later when Macri headed home a corner kick from Wright, but was whistled for a foul in the box prior to connecting on the service.

The Blue Devils continued to press forward in the final minutes, but couldn't get the equalizer. North Carolina held a 13-4 advantage in shots, while Duke won the corner kick battle 10-1.

Reis earned his first career start for the Blue Devils, making three saves in 45 minutes of action. Hamill came in the second half to record one stop. Alec Smir posted his eighth shutout of the season.

Duke concludes the season with a 4-10-3 overall record and a 4-7-1 mark in conference action.

#GoDuke