DURHAM, N.C. - Byron Quinatoa's (Santo Domingo de los Colorados, Ecuador) second goal in as many games gave the Presbyterian College men's soccer team an early 1-0 lead over Duke on Tuesday night, but four Blue Devil goals proved too much for visiting PC as the Blue Hose fell, 4-1.
PC moves to 0-8-0 on the year. Duke improves to 5-4-0.
The Blue Hose stood tied with the Blue Devils at the half and matched Duke for most of the contest before Duke pulled away with three goals in the second half
Jonny Mercado (Lilburn, Ga.) led PC with two shots on goal. Ethan Watson (Taylorsville, Ga.) made three saves before leaving the game midway through the final stanza. Tanner Osborne (Lexington, S.C.) made two saves in relief.
Quinatoa grabbed his second goal of the year on a cracker in the 20th minute to put PC on the scoreboard first.
Josh Carter (Anchorage, Alaska.) dribbled downfield and drew a throw-in from deep in Blue Devil territory. PC took advantage of the play and threw the ball in quickly to Quinatoa, who spun to his left and took a swinging kick that sent the ball curving into the right side of the box. A streaking Ade screened the keeper and the shot caromed off the post and in to give PC a 1-0 lead.
PC looked to build on its lead but Duke found an equalizer in the 33rd minute. Chris Tweed-Kent passed to Andrew Wenger, who then shot from 10 yards out to pull Duke even, 1-1. Wenger entered the match ranked second in the country in goals scored, with 10.
Neither side recorded a shot on goal for the rest of the half despite even play on both ends. The teams entered the break tied, 1-1.
Mercado put a chance on net five minutes into the half, but Duke goalkeeper Jan Trnka-Amrhein made the save.
The Blue Devils struck six and a half minutes later to go ahead, 2-1, in the match's 57th minute. Nick Palodichuk converted from five yards away to give Duke its first lead of the night.
Osborne entered the match in the 66th minute and made a sterling stop three minutes after, challenging Palodichuk for a save on a breakaway and deflecting the ball away.
The physicality of the match picked up as time wound down. PC worked to hold the Duke attack at bay but the Blue Devils added a third goal with 13:31 on a Nat Eggleston header. Duke led by two after the score, 3-1.
Palodichuk added another in the 86th to extend Duke's lead to 4-1. Mike Day (Columbia, S.C.) tried to close the gap with a shot in the final minute but the match ended with the Blue Devils ahead, 4-1.
The Blue Hose return home to begin Big South Conference play against VMI on Saturday. The afternoon match at Edens Field at Martin Stadium is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
