D'Ambrosio's Early Strike Lifts No. 15 Duke Past UC San Diego in Season Opener Blue Devils Control Possession and Shots in 1-0 Victory Behind Midfielder's Sixth-Minute Goal
Durham, N.C.– No. 15 Duke University opened their 2025 campaign with a convincing 1-0 victory over UC San Diego on Sunday, as Leonardo D'Ambrosio's early goal and a dominant attacking display propelled the Blue Devils to victory in their season opener.
The match was effectively decided in the opening minutes when D'Ambrosio found the back of the net just 6 minutes and 35 seconds into the contest. The Italian midfielder capitalized on excellent build-up play, finishing a move that showcased Duke's attacking fluidity with assists credited to both Kenan Hot and Alessandro Arlotti. The goal came after UC San Diego had generated early pressure with two corner kicks in the opening six minutes, but Duke's quick response demonstrated the quality gap between the ranked visitors and their hosts.
Duke's statistical dominance told the story of their control throughout the 90 minutes. The Blue Devils outshot UC San Diego 22-7, including a commanding 5-2 advantage in shots on target. Forward Ulfur Bjornsson led Duke's attacking charge with six shots, though the Icelandic striker couldn't find the finishing touch to extend the lead. D'Ambrosio proved to be Duke's most clinical player, converting one of his five attempts while consistently threatening the Tritons' defense.
The Blue Devils' midfield orchestrated the victory, with Hot contributing an assist while registering three shots and two shots on goal. His partnership with Drew Kerr and Jose Ortega in the center of the park allowed Duke to dictate tempo and create numerous scoring opportunities throughout both halves.
UC San Diego goalkeeper Nolan Premack kept his team in the contest with six saves, including crucial stops on shots from Kamran Acito in the 19th minute and Hot in the 65th minute. The Tritons' defensive effort was undermined by their inability to generate sustained attacking pressure, managing just two shots on target despite earning 11 corner kicks to Duke's five.
The home side's best opportunities came in the second half, with defender Evan Wellerstein forcing a save from Duke keeper Eryk Dymora in the 55th minute and Cole Barrett testing the Polish goalkeeper again in the 75th minute. However, these isolated chances couldn't match Duke's consistent offensive pressure.
Duke's tactical discipline was evident in their ability to maintain possession while limiting UC San Diego's counter-attacking opportunities. Despite committing 10 fouls to the Tritons' eight, the Blue Devils avoided any serious disciplinary issues, with only Preston Zabinko receiving a yellow card.
The victory provides Duke with early momentum as they begin their pursuit of another strong ACC campaign. Their ability to control the match from the opening whistle while showcasing depth through strategic substitutions bodes well for the challenges ahead.
For UC San Diego, the defeat highlighted areas for improvement as they transition into Division I competition. While their defensive organization kept the scoreline respectable, the Tritons will need to find more attacking rhythm to compete effectively in their new conference environment.
Duke's commanding performance statistics – doubling UC San Diego's shot total while maintaining superior possession – suggest the final scoreline flattered the home team. The Blue Devils' combination of early goal-scoring and sustained pressure throughout both halves demonstrated the tactical maturity expected from a top-15 program.
Key Players
- Leonardo D'Ambrosio (Duke) - Scored the match-winning goal in the 6th minute and led Duke with 5 shots, consistently threatening throughout the contest
- Ulfur Bjornsson (Duke) - Generated Duke's most attacking threat with 6 shots, creating numerous scoring opportunities despite failing to find the net
- Nolan Premack (UC San Diego) - Made 6 crucial saves to keep his team competitive, including key stops that prevented Duke from extending their lead