Wake Forest University
5-1-0, 3-1-0
Duke University
2-4-0, 2-3-0
Hernandez’s Late Free Kick Seals Wake Forest Victory Over Duke
10/23/2020 8:49:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons were lifted by a 85th-minute free kick goal from sophomore Omar Hernandez to get the victory over the Blue Devils.
DURHAM, N.C. -- Sophomore Omar Hernandez put home a perfectly placed free kick from just outside the 18-yard box in the 85th minute to give Wake Forest (5-1-0, 3-1-0) a 2-1 victory over Duke (2-4-0, 2-3-0) on Friday night at Koskinen Stadium.
With the victory, Wake Forest has won four-straight against the Blue Devils.
"It wasn't pretty, I give Duke a heck of a lot of credit," said head coach Bobby Muuss. "That's a good side right there and they caused us fits. Again, at halftime I thought we came out slower and they really stepped their game up. It took a really, really good goal to beat them in the first half and then an excellent goal in the second half.
"I think we stole one here on the road, but the bottom line is we got three points at Duke, on the road in the ACC."
In the 20th minute, sophomore Calvin Harris struck with force to put the Demon Deacons ahead 1-0, as he curled a shot into the top corner of the net past Duke goalkeeper Will Pulisic.
Harris took a pass from sophomore midfielder Jake Swallen to blast home the one-timer right at the 18-yard box for his third goal of the season. For Swallen, it marked his third assist of the 2020 season.
The Blue Devils came out in the second half with an aggressive, attacking mentality as Duke tallied 13 shots after the halftime break including four in between the 54th and 55th minutes.
Duke finally broke through in the 71st minute, as redshirt junior goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg was beaten by Duke's Jack Doran.
Despite the equalizer, Wake Forest would respond back with the beautiful free kick strike from Hernandez, who was making his first start of the season.
Duke had one more serious chance with 1:45 left in regulation, but the free kick attempt skied over Pannenberg.
Wake Forest's next match will come on Friday night when the Demon Deacons face current No. 3 Clemson at Spry Stadium. The match will serve as Senior Day for the Demon Deacons. It will begin at 5 p.m. and be televised on RSN.
Team Stats
Calvin Harris (3)
Assisted By: Jake Swallen
GOAL by WFU Harris, Calvin Assist by Swallen, Jake.
19:34
Jack Doran (3)
Assisted By: Nick Pariano , Ian Murphy
GOAL by DUK Doran, Jack Assist by Pariano, Nick and Murphy, Ian.
70:36
Omar Hernandez (1)
GOAL by WFU Hernandez, Omar.
84:02
