UVA vs Duke, not UNC [R]

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Let's see if I have this straight. According to you...

Duke was undefeated against D3 and Cupcake opponents.
Duke beat UNC during it's unbeaten streak.
So by your logic, UNC is a Cupcake opponent.

I didn't realize you felt that way about your own team.

PS: Keep in mind that Virginia couldn't score on Duke until they were TWO MEN UP. Duke played the entire second half with 10 (Loftus = two yellow cards) and the last ten minutes plus overtime with only 9 (Pope = red card). I can't make any comments on the calls because I was not at the game, but I would appreciate an opinion from an unbiased observer. I find it odd that Duke had 5 cards and UVA had zero because Virginia is typically very aggressive. Regardless, UVA scored more goals and that's what counts, but I don't feel nearly as bad blowing a 2-0 lead knowing that UVA had a two man advantage.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Slight correction from above,

the box score on virginiasports.com lists UVA with zero cards, whereas the box score on goduke.com lists UVA receiving a YC in the 15th minute.

Not sure which one is correct.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Average?

They're 13-2, 4-1 and in first place in the toughest conference in the country, riding an eight game winning streak, have outscored their opponents by a 3-1 margain (36-12), are ranked 2 (collegesoccernews.com), 3 (NSCAA), 7 (soccertimes) and 8 (soccer america) in the polls and have 16 players who have started at least four games.

There are a LOT of teams out there that would like to be this average.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

And I hope we get another chance this year to go into your house and administer yet another butt kicking. Remember how that felt last year? Was it embarrassing to be humiliated on your home field by a bunch of no names from Nebraska? I now understand why you continually overlook our program.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

takes a lot of guts to post this thread title AFTER the game.

I thought the UNC/Duke game settled this. Shouldn't we get a year of silence. No, can't be that lucky.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

I was at the game, so let me give a rundown based on some facts. First, Duke controlled, though not dominated, the first half until the red card. THe first goal was a beautiful through ball and a superb finish from number 11, Wadsworth. Both teams played fairly poorly in the offenisve third up to that point, but then Duke got the ball to Wadsworth again who dribbled through the box, was shouldered off the ball well by Freeman, but then slipped under Freeman before the touchline and Freeman knocked him down. A no call in my book, but the ref called a penalty. Freeman should have done better and Duke put it away for a 2 nil lead that broke the momemtum UVA was building in front a large crowd, over 2500, maybe nearer 3k, if I remember correctly.

About ten minutes later, after a few more solid chances for Duke, a very deserved yellow card was issued to Chris Loftus, and it was second, for a hard fall on Nico. UVA pressed hard for the rest of the half and the first 30 minutes of the second half, but looked extremely inept offensively and really did not threaten but a couple of times.

Then Freeman shoved Pope to get a dead ball and restart. Pope went flying and the play continued. Pope then proceeded to run up behind Freeman and kick him very hard in front of the ref, Rennie and the Duke Bench. He was sent off and the nine man Duke bunkered and held their 18.

Freeman served a few beautiful balls that were not connected well. Nico also created some chances, but to no avail. Christman hits a beautiful flying sideways volley that the Duke keeper hits, and has to swat again to keep from going in. Finally, with under 5 to go, Freeman serves up a beauty to Hartman (who came in for Simo with a few minutes left in the half- SIDE: Simo is still hurt and not recovered- so it seemed) who headed into a open net after the Duke keeper miscued.

Two minutes later, Nico dribbles through four Dukies, into the box, and is knocked down for an easy call. Freeman hits pk- OT.

Two minutes into OT, Freeman serves up his nation leading 16 or 17 assist and Littlefield soars over Duke Defense and heads well into the net. 3-2 UVA.

Entertaining game, if not a lot of quality soccer. But some good moments, and if you are a UVA fan, which I am, it was good to get this type of win. George has done well getting some fighters on the team to compliment his handful of talented players.
Rennie should have won this game were it not for immaturity of his players, notably Pope.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Are you so insecure about UNC that you need to continue to call Duke a “cupcake”? This game was between UVA and Duke, not UNC/UVA and Duke. I don’t see any Dukies bragging on this board, even when they were ranked #1. Why don’t you worry about your own team rather then bashing Duke 24/7? Is Duke truly a “cupcake”, they did beat UNC and they held off UVA for almost the entire game with a 2-0 lead. Unfortunately, stupid mistakes and fouls put them in a bad position. UVA took advantage of these mistakes but that was the only way they were able to win.

There are no dominating teams in the ACC this year. I’ve seen every ACC team play, with the exception of Wake, and the ACC tournament will be very exciting from top to bottom. Only the team holding the ACC trophy will have bragging rights.

Back to Duke though, they are a very young team and with every win and loss they grow. You can take your “cupcake” s$%t and shove it. We’ll see you at the ACCs.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

I think we've all heard enough negativity, UVA and Duke are obviously top ten teams this season and to call them anything else is simply showing some other agenda or bias. UVA won the ACC Tourny last year and picked up where they left off this season and Duke is young, BIG, deep and talented. Those are the facts and we can stop calling Duke cupcakes because they have now proven themselves as the schedule has picked up.

Note: of all the teams in the ACC, I like these two teams the least but fair is fair.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Objectivity on bigsoccer? Dude, you could get some negative rep for that!

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Didn't see the game, but my friend who is a big UVA homer even said that the PK was set up by a ridiculous dive, although he didn't mind much.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

I'm quite pleased by this victory for UVa. A year or two ago they would have folded after the first goal and never had the commitment or thinking they could come back.

GG has changed his recruiting tactics, and I think they will pay dividends as one, two or three recruiting classes can have the time to gel over a couple years instead of falling victim to project 40.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Was it not your original post title : "UVA vs. cupcake (Duke)". To me that is calling Duke a "cupcake". I will not stoop low enough to your level to degrade UNC or other schools for that matter.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Now this guy is a standup comic as well as an expert at college soccer. Which Duke fans did you talk to that thought UNC deserved that win?! And that chronic really got you thinkin sideways if you yourself thought UNC should have been the victor against Duke. And why do you continue to bring up Duke's schedule? Does it keep you up at nights, leaving you tossing and turning? Everyone knows they're out of conference schedule is soft but why kill yourself the entire season against heavy weights only to tire yourself out at the end of the season, especially when you've got such a young and inexperienced side? How much is a plane ticket back to the UK, I've got a southwest airlines voucher and I'll pay the difference for the ticket.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Soccer is expensive for a private school. Duke basically said we're playing all nonconference games at home. It's easier on the players academically and saves money. May not be better for improving the team, but Duke's going through a rebuilding phase now anyway. Duke football can't cover other sport expenses like at other schools. Basketball keeps much of its own.

Did I read on another thread a claim that UNC is unbeaten vs. ranked teams?

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

No, really?

If you want to talk about UNC, you should do it on a UNC thread, not a UVA-Duke one.

Since I broke my hand and was unable to drive to the game, which many of you probably know is the MOST ANTICIPATED GAME OF THE YEAR for me, I came here looking for people actually talking about it, rather than people bragging about beating NC State. Let's try to stay on topic here.

I got my text message last nite and held my breath before I checked it. Then I went to Virginiasports.com and read about it, sounds like I missed a good one. I've actually missed a lot of the UVA games this year with my two jobs and classwork, this is the first time since I was 17 I haven't had season tickets. But some of it is "I'm not gonna take off work to watch us beat Longwood/Davidson/whoever."

However I do plan on going to the Maryland game, work or not. Assuming no freak accidents ruin it.

Now I have to go watch the Red Sox. Let's try to be mature though guys, seriously. Make a UNC thread if you want to talk about UNC.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Also new or not, try to remember your [R]s.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

I'll be at that one too, should be a good one.

Hope your hand feels better.

 

Re: UVA vs CupCake (DUKE)

Thanks, I'm just hoping it will be a good enough excuse for not having my Finance done. Better than the "Sorry, when I get home from work I only have time to watch baseball" route, especially with my Yankees fan prof.


Martino can "move over" to my place.