Duke men beat Davidson

DURHAM, N.C. - Ryan Finley scored two goals and an assist to lead No. 10 Duke over Davidson, 4-1, in non-conference men's soccer action Tuesday night in Koskinen Stadium.

Senior midfielder Alex Caskey (Dunwoody, Ga.) ended the Blue Devils' shutout bid with a goal from 15 yards out with 37 seconds remaining. Classmate Greg Macnamara (Arlington, Va.) played a long ball to Caskey, who was able to get around the Duke (5-2-3, 1-2-1 ACC) defense and float a shot over the goalkeeper.

Finley scored his ninth goal of the season in the 23rd minute, putting in the rebound off of Chris Tweed-Kent's blocked shot. Davidson (4-4-3) put the pressure on offensively late in the first half, but Finley broke free and was able to score again in the 41st minute.

Cole Grossman extended the Blue Devil advantage to 3-0 in the second half, heading in a Finley corner kick in the 51st minute. Grossman then knocked in a rebound off a shot by Tweed-Kent in the 68th minute to put Duke up 4-0.

The Wildcats best chances came late in the first half. Senior Peter Shelton (Raleigh, N.C.) placed a shot from 25 yards out on goal after Finley's first goal, but Duke goalkeeper James Belshaw smothered it. Senior Yannick Pilgrim (Arima, Trinidad & Tobago), returning from injury after missing seven games, nearly scored after receiving a long ball, but a Duke defender and Belshaw were able to fend off the opportunity. A shot by sophomore Brian McGue (Dublin, Ohio) from 30 yards out nearly found its way through when Belshaw mishandled it, but Belshaw was able to gather it up in time.

Duke led Davidson in shot attempts, but shots on goal were nearly even as Duke held only a 7-6 advantage. Belshaw made five saves in just over 80 minutes of action. Junior goalkeeper Chip Sanders made three saves for the 'Cats.

Davidson will return to Southern Conference action Friday night playing at Wofford in a match that will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel at 8 p.m.