DURHAM, NC – Scott Jones scored off a feed from Randi Patterson with 14:13 to play and it held up as UNC Greensboro defeated Duke, 1-0, in a men’s soccer exhibition match at Koskinen Stadium Sunday night.
Jones scored the only goal of the night from 10 yards out on the left side of the box after Patterson found him from the top of the box.
The pre-season match-up featured two of the nation’s top-ranked teams according to the early season polls. UNCG has been ranked as high as sixth in the pre-season polls, while Duke has been as high as third. The Blue Devils are coming off a 2004 Final Four appearance, while UNCG spent four weeks as the No. 1 team in the nation, went 19-3-1, and advanced to the Round of 16 in the NCAA College Cup a year ago.
Both teams had their share of scoring opportunities in the first half. Duke held a 10-8 advantage in shots at the intermission, but neither team had anything to show for it on the scoreboard.
After Duke hit the post in the opening minutes of the second half, UNCG appeared to take a lead shortly thereafter. Just 5:50 into the second half, Jamie Carlson headed a Scott Jones corner kick into the goal from the far post. However, the play was called back when the ball was ruled over the goal line before Carlson made contact and the game remained scoreless.
After Jones, who also had a big defensive save in the first half, broke the tie with his tally, Duke had several great chances in the closing minutes. However, freshman goalkeeper Chad Dickerson came up big with four minutes to play when he dove to his right to deflect a shot by Michael Videira to preserve the shutout.
UNCG continues its exhibition season on Saturday when it hosts North Carolina State at UNCG Soccer Stadium beginning at 7 pm.
AGATE
UNC Greensboro..........0...1...- 1
Duke...............................0...0...- 0
SCORING SUMMARY:
75:47 - UNCG Scott Jones (Randi Patterson)
Shots: UNC Greensboro 11, Duke 25. Saves: UNC Greensboro 5 (Chad Dickerson [45:00, 2nd] 3; Jay Benfield 1; TEAM 1), Duke 1 (Justin Papadakis 1). Corner Kicks: Duke 7, UNCG 5. Fouls: UNCG 20, Duke 11.