Box Score

ELON, N.C. – The Elon men’s soccer team battled back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw against the ninth-ranked Duke Blue Devils in front of a raucous crowd at Rudd Field on Tuesday night. The Phoenix (3-2-3) remained unbeaten in its last six contests. Duke moved to 4-1-3 on the season.

“This was a tough game against a very talented Duke team,” said Elon head coach Darren Powell. “Our team showed character to bounce back after being goal down. We will build upon tying one of the best teams in the country as we prepare for league action.”

Senior goalie Clint Irwin tied his career high with nine saves in the game. Irwin had posted nine stops on two other occasions during his career, most recently against North Carolina in 2009.

The contest was the first-ever result against Duke as the Blue Devils owned a perfect 8-0 all-time record against Elon prior to this evening’s game.

After a scoreless first half of play in which Duke owned much of the possession, the Blue Devils managed to get on the board in the 56th minute. Chris Tweed-Kent touched a short pass from the left side of the field to Cole Grossman who slid a shot to the far bottom right corner of the net to give the visitors the lead.

Duke continued to hold possession but Irwin and the Elon back line held strong to keep it a one-goal game. In the 74th minute, Elon forward Denzel Ogunyase sent a long shot from the right side of the field into the box. The shot appeared to be going wide of the net before a Duke player redirected the ball into the goal for an own goal that tied the game.

With the game knotted at one, momentum shifted and Elon managed to put the ball on net several times before the end of regulation. Shortly after the score, Phoenix forward Chris Thomas took a shot from about seven yards out that was blocked away by a Blue Devil defender. With under 10 minutes to play, Ogunyase rocketed a shot from the right side but it went straight at Duke keeper James Belshaw.

Irwin came up big late in the contest and in the overtime sessions. With about five minutes remaining in regulation, Irwin made a great save on a free kick from the top of the box by Grossman.

Duke had the lone two shots of the overtime periods, both stopped by the Elon senior. With less than four to play in the first OT, Irwin tapped up a ball that banged off the crossbar to save a score. Minutes later, Irwin laid out to save a shot off the foot of Nick Sih and preserve the tie.

Duke held a 22-8 advantage in shots and took nine corner kicks compared to three by the Phoenix.

The Phoenix will return to Southern Conference play when it travels to UNC Greensboro on Saturday, Oct. 2. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.