Sept. 19, 2007
DURHAM, N.C. – Despite freshman forward Sam Arthur’s team-leading fourth goal of the season, the South Carolina men’s soccer team suffered a 2-1 loss on the road to No. 9 Duke on Wednesday night in a hard-fought contest at Koskinen Field in Durham. Carolina falls to 4-3-0 for the year with the loss, while the Blue Devils improve to 4-2-0.
“I was very pleased with the way our team played in stretches tonight against a good Duke team on the road,” South Carolina head coach Mark Berson said. “We came back from behind which is a real credit to our guys, and I think we definitely have shown a lot of improvement as a team, playing better each time we go out.”
Duke dominated the offensive end of the match, posting 29 shots against nine by the Gamecocks. Sophomore defender Mark Wiltse led Carolina with two shots, while Arthur, freshman midfielder Josh Stewart and freshman defender Will Traynor each registered one shot on net. Arthur recorded Carolina’s lone goal of the night on an assist from sophomore forward Schuyler Reardon, his second of the season.
Carolina’s freshman goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer collected a season-best 10 saves, allowing two goals in the loss, while Blue Devil goalkeeper Justin Papadakis allowed one goal, registering two saves in net.
Duke marked the scoreboard first in the opening half, when Paul Dudley connected on a cross from Mike Grella in the seventh minute for an early 1-0 Blue Devil lead. Carolina pressured the Duke defense throughout the half, and answered on Arthur’s tally in the 26th minute to even the score at 1-1.
The second half proved an offensive battle on both ends with each team having numerous chances. Grella scored the deciding Blue Devil goal in the 79th minute on a penalty kick, and Carolina was unable to answer in the final minutes, as Duke managed to hold for the 2-1 victory.
South Carolina returns to Stone Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 23, hosting Alabama A&M at 7 p.m.
