Soccer is tricky. A team can command complete control over an opponent, but until the ball hits the net, the two are even.
No. 19 Duke smothered Queens throughout Tuesday night’s outing in Koskinen Stadium, but the Royals lived to tell the tale and left Durham with a 0-0 draw.
Slipping out of the top 10 after a shutout loss to Clemson, Duke (7-1-6, 3-1-2 in the ACC) has not netted a goal in two weeks. Plagued by offensive inefficiencies, the Blue Devils have looked unimpressive in their three-match cold spell against unranked opponents, even failing to capitalize against a Boston College group down a player.
Nonetheless, there was a response to the most recent defeat at Historic Riggs Field: From just two shot attempts to 31, Duke eagerly pressured the Queens defense and controlled 66% of possession, but was unable to display that on the scoreboard.
“If I knew the answer, we’d be on the score sheet,” head coach John Kerr said after the game. “It’s not for lack of trying. Obviously, we’re creating a bunch of opportunities for ourselves, and maybe we have to take that extra touch, make the extra pass, or someone’s gonna step up and make a play. And I think it’s all of the above.”
Although Duke emerged victorious last year in a 5-0 romp, Queens (5-5-5, 0-1-3 in the ASUN) proved worthy, even accomplishing a feat Duke could not — defeating Clemson on the road. Goalkeeper Matheus Rhormens kept his team alive, saving all 10 of Duke’s attempts on target. It was also Rhormens that spurred Royal counterattacks with his excellent distribution from the box.
At the beginning of the contest, Duke appeared strong, immediately attacking and earning seven corners within 10 minutes. Winning those through combinations of through balls and deflections, the Blue Devils heavily tested the Queens defense. Notable chances in the first half included an 11th-minute shot from sophomore Jamie Kabuusu which clipped the top of the woodwork, a free header by senior defender Kamran Acito and a 37th-minute Alessandro Arlotti break — both saved by Rhormens.
But as Queens stayed level with the home team, it inspired confidence. Playing defensively, the Royals’ defense bent significantly, but never broke. Blue Devil set pieces — especially the 22 corners that Queens had no issue relinquishing — never found success. Volleys from Kenan Hot, free kicks from Drew Kerr, blasts by Aleksandar Vukovic and even a bicycle attempt by Ulfur Bjornsson just never ended in the net.
From the sideline, yells of urgency and continued press pierced the brief rain, but to no avail. As the Blue Devils became more frustrated, fouls and clock stoppages followed. From only committing three in the first 45 minutes, Duke ended the second 45 with 10 more. In the final two minutes, a brawl began near the Queens bench after Kabuusu raced to the sideline for a throw-in, and Queens staff shouted in anger over continued paused time.
Perhaps the lone bright spot for Duke was the incredibly strong defensive line, commanded by Acito and Vukovic. The two centerbacks snuffed out the Royal offense to ensure a shutout and only allowed one shot on target handled by Duke goaltender Eryk Dymora. Both also contributed to the offense, combining for five shots including two on goal.
“We have to bounce back quickly,” Kerr said. “I said to them, ‘If you get one goal, you get three [points], and we win the game.’ We’ve been a little snake-bit the past three games, and we’ve got to get over it quickly. Saturday is going to be a tough old game in the ACC and a lot to play for.”
Duke looks to exit its slump against No. 3 N.C. State Saturday in the final regular season game in Durham.