DURHAM, N.C.—Duke junior forward Daniel Wright posted two clinical goals tonight as the 10th-ranked Blue Devils battled to a 2-2 draw with visiting South Carolina in exhibition men's soccer action. Wright scored both goals in the opening half with senior Daniele Proch providing an assist on both.
Duke, with three days of preseason practices under its belt, came out strong in the opening half and controlled much of the run of play, especially through the middle of the field. The Blue Devils generated a few early chances, but it was Wright breaking through in the 25th minute to give Duke the 1-0 lead.
Proch provided the long service for Wright in the box. The Wixom, Michigan native ran onto it on the right side of the box and beat the South Carolina keeper with a perfectly placed shot to the low left corner.
The weather came into play minutes later as the teams had to clear the field because of lightning in the area. Duke and South Carolina retreated to the locker rooms for the next 75 minutes to wait out the storm.
The Blue Devils, after a quick warmup following the delay, came out on their front foot and scored within the first minute back on the field. The familiar names for Proch and Wright were involved again as Proch started the action with a ball out to the left flank for sophomore Aedan Stanley.
Stanley collected it onto his left foot and sent his service to the top of the six-yard box where Wright beat a South Carolina defender to the near post and headed it past the keeper for the brace and 2-0 first-half lead.
With Duke leading 2-0 after the first 45, both squads put in entirely new lineups in the second half and South Carolina benefited from the fresh legs of Brian Banahan. The Gamecock rookie cut Duke's lead in half in the 58th minute as the ball trickled over the goal line despite the poor touch on the cross. His second tally just nine minutes later was a different story as he hit the side netting from the top left of the 18-yard box to tie the game.
South Carolina continued to put a little pressure on the Blue Devils, but Duke came back and regained composure and possession in the final 15 minutes. Colby Agu nearly gave the Blue Devils the lead again on an outstanding service from Stephen O'Connell on the left side, but the South Carolina keeper just got a touch on it to push it over the bar.
Overall, Duke outshot the Gamecocks 13-9, including 7-3 in the first half. The Blue Devils also earned seven corner kicks. Will Pulisic started the game in goal and did not have to make a save with the help of an outstanding group in front of him. Eliot Hamill made two saves in the second half. South Carolina keepers made a combined four stops.
The Blue Devils continue exhibition play Aug. 20 at UNC Wilmington. The game is set for 6 p.m., at UNCW Soccer Stadium. Tickets are $7 for adults and $2 for kids ages 3-15.
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