UNC Wilmington men lose to Duke

DURHAM, N.C. – Cole Grossman knocked in a short cross from the leftside to lift No. 12 Duke past UNC Wilmington, 2-1, in double overtime in men’s soccer action on Tuesday at Koskinen Stadium.

The Blue Devils improved to 5-1 on the season while the Seahawks, who played their third double overtime match in their last four games, fell to 4-2-1 in their final non-conference outing of the season.

After a scoreless first half in which Duke controlled play from the opening minute, building an 11-0 shot advantage, it was the Seahawks who notched the first goal of the evening. Junior Tyler Wheaton, who scored the game-winner against UNC Greensboro last weekend, fired a shot from 30 yards out that caromed off a Blue Devils defender and landed inside the left post at the 57:00 mark.

UNCW continued to have chances in the second half, but Duke would draw even late in the 73rd minute on Ryan Finely’s third goal of the season. Finley collected a failed clear attempt, took a touch to his right and beat UNCW junior goalkeeper Brock Duckworth to the left corner from 18 yards out.

In the first overtime and the clock winding down, junior Daniel Roberts found himself open in the penalty area and managed to collect a loose ball, but his shot was blocked as the Duke defense closed out his open space.
Grossman ended the game 1:42 into the second overtime off a feed from Andrew Wenger.

Duke finished with a 23-9 advantage in shots, but just12-9 in the final three periods.

Duckworth, meanwhile, stopped a career-high 10 shots, including three early in the first half that prevented Duke from taking the lead.

Duke keeper James Belshaw made two saves for Duke,

UNCW returns to action on Sept. 26 when they host Drexel in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams.