The No. 5 Virginia men’s soccer team hits the road Friday for the first time in the 2015 season as it heads to Duke. Also the opener in ACC play, the UVa-Duke match starts at 7 p.m. Friday at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.
Records
Virginia: 2-0-1
Duke: 4-0-0
Broadcast Information
ESPN3 will have the live video broadcast online. A link to live statistics can be located at VirginiaSports.com.
Virginia-Duke Series
Virginia owns a 40-36-9 lead in the series and is unbeaten in the last five meetings (3-0-2). The teams have split the last 10 meetings, 4-4-2, with nine of the 10 being decided by a goal or fewer, including each of the last six since 2009.
Last Year: Virginia 1, Duke 0
In the teams’ last meeting on Oct. 11, 2014, at Klöckner Stadium, Eric Bird scored in the 13th minute and UVa goalkeeper Calle Brown stepped up with some key saves down the stretch to propel the Cavaliers to the victory. Brown made three saves, including a pair of huge stops during a Duke charge late in the second half. Duke keeper Joe Ohaus stopped six shots.
Virginia out-shot Duke, 14-8, and put seven shots on target to three for Duke. The Cavaliers scored in the 13th minute. Jake Rozhansky whipped a long cross deep across the box toward the left post to find Bird, who headed it home for the goal.
While Virginia held a decided possession advantage and had the better of the scoring opportunities in the first 75 minutes, Duke made a late push and had the Cavaliers on their heels late in the match. In the 82nd minute, Brown made a diving stop on a low shot by Bryson Asher, just inside the post. After a Duke corner kick, Asher again fired a ball on target, but Brown batted the high shot away to force another corner.
Lennon, Corriveau Provide Offense a Jolt
All four of Virginia’s scores this year have come from junior midfielders Nicko Corriveau and Riggs Lennon, with each scoring a pair of goals. Corriveau’s goals each resulted in the eventual game-winning goal. Lennon was held without a goal during his sophomore season, but quickly broke his drought in 2015 as he has scored in each of the last two matches.
Corriveau and Lennon also are tied for the team lead with five shots on goal apiece.
Cavaliers Earn 2-1 Win over George Mason
Virginia parlayed a pair of first-half goals into a 2-1 victory over George Mason Tuesday evening at Klöckner Stadium. Lennon and Corriveau each scored for the Cavaliers.
Virginia goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell had a strong night, making four saves. He stopped an early penalty kick, while his remaining saves all came on point-blank opportunities. George Mason keeper Steffen Kraus stopped three shots.
Virginia out-shot George Mason 17-12, while both teams put five shots on goal.
Rookies Make Early Impact
Five Virginia freshmen have put in key minutes during UVa’s first three matches. Malcolm Dixon has started a pair of matches at right back, while Derrick Etienne has earned two starts at midfield. Edward Opoku, Jean-Christophe Koffi and Wesley Wade all have earned time off the bench.
The quintet is part of the Cavaliers’ incoming recruiting class that was tabbed the No. 2 best class nationally.
Noting Duke
Duke is coming off a 5-1 home win over Loyola on Tuesday and is receiving votes in the latest NSCAA poll. Jeremy Ebobisse leads the team with four goals and a pair of assists, while eight different Blue Devils have scored a goal this season. Duke’s defense has been strong as the Blue Devils have allowed just 34 shots and three goals in four games.
Up Next
Virginia returns home next Tuesday with a 7 p.m. match against James Madison. The Cavaliers then play host to NC State next Friday (Sept. 18) in an ACC match.
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Chris Graham
