Duke and Furman Battle to 1-1 Stalemate in Thrilling Encounter Ninth-ranked Blue Devils surrender lead as Paladins demonstrate resilience in hard-fought draw
GREENVILLE, SC – Ninth-ranked Duke saw their advantage slip away in a pulsating 1-1 draw against Furman at Stone Family Stadium on Saturday evening, as both sides showcased attacking intent in an entertaining contest that featured 27 combined shots and numerous momentum swings.
The Paladins broke the deadlock in the 37th minute through a well-orchestrated move that caught the Blue Devils' defense off guard. Landon Hill found space in the penalty area and converted clinically after receiving a perfectly weighted assist from Ben Boxall, sending the home crowd into raptures with a composed finish that nestled into the bottom corner.
Duke's response came swiftly in the second half, with Kenan Hot restoring parity just five minutes after the restart. The midfielder capitalized on a loose ball following Nikolai Bull Jorgensen's initial effort, hammering home an unassisted equalizer at the 50:26 mark that demonstrated his predatory instincts in the final third.
The encounter transformed into an absorbing tactical battle as both sides pressed for a winner. Furman edged the shot count 15-12, with their attacking trio of Hill, Wesley Siegel, and Diego Hernandez consistently troubling Duke's backline. Siegel proved particularly menacing, unleashing three attempts while creating havoc down the flanks throughout his 77-minute display.
Duke goalkeeper Eryk Dymora emerged as the Blue Devils' standout performer, producing six crucial saves to preserve his side's unbeaten status. The shot-stopper denied Ryan Wagner twice, including a dangerous effort in the sixth minute, and made several acrobatic interventions to thwart Furman's persistent attacks. His counterpart Max Miller proved equally resolute, turning away four Duke attempts with authority.
The second half witnessed a dramatic shift in momentum as Duke seized control of proceedings. Hot nearly doubled his tally with a speculative effort in the 62nd minute, while Leonardo D'Ambrosio tested Miller twice with well-struck attempts from distance. Defender Preston Zabinko also went close, forcing a fine save from the Furman custodian with a venomous drive.
Furman's resilience shone through during the closing stages as they weathered Duke's sustained pressure while creating several half-chances of their own. Substitute Caleb Johnson nearly snatched victory in the 87th minute, only to see his goal-bound effort smothered by the alert Dymora. Reece Fragle's late header also required a diving save from the Duke goalkeeper as the Paladins pushed desperately for a winner.
The match statistics reflected an evenly contested affair, with Furman enjoying a slight edge in shots on goal (7-5) and corner kicks (5-3). Both sides committed similar numbers of fouls, though Duke's Aleksandar Vukovic and Aridon Racaj, along with Furman's Luke Hutzell and Ryan Wagner, found their names in the referee's notebook.
Duke's attacking threat was largely channeled through Hot and Drew Kerr, with the latter proving instrumental in the Blue Devils' build-up play despite failing to find the target with his two attempts. The visitors' front line struggled to maintain sustained pressure, with Alessandro Arlotti managing just one shot on target during his 56-minute stint.
The result represents a valuable point for both programs, with Duke demonstrating their quality against determined opposition while Furman proved they can compete with ranked opponents through organized defending and clinical finishing.
Key Players
- Kenan Hot (Duke) - Struck the crucial equalizer and remained Duke's most dangerous attacking threat with two shots and constant movement in the final third
- Eryk Dymora (Duke) - Produced six vital saves including several spectacular stops to deny Furman's persistent attacks and preserve the draw
- Landon Hill (Furman) - Converted the opening goal with clinical precision and provided the spark that ignited Furman's attacking display