The 1986 Duke Blue Devils men's soccer team represented Duke University during the 1986 NCAA Division I men's soccer season.
The Blue Devils won the first ever national title this season.
Background In the 1985 season, Duke's soccer team had a successful record of 4-2 in the ACC and 16-5 overall. However, they faced the loss of four-year starters Tom Kain and goalkeeper Pat Johnston to graduation. Head coach John Rennie, with a strong returning midfield and defense, looked to seniors John Kerr, Jr., Kelly Weadock, and Mike Linenberger to step up. Rennie also recruited a strong incoming class, including freshman Joey Valenti from Tampa, Florida, who would later assist in a game-winning goal against Akron.
Review The early season results were mixed, with losses to Catawba, NC State, and Maryland, but victories over North Carolina and Wake Forest. Duke ended the regular season 15-5-1, including a 4-0 loss to Virginia. Despite some close losses, Duke registered eleven shutouts and five matches with a win margin of at least four goals.
In the first round of the NCAA tournament, Duke faced 13th-ranked South Carolina, winning 3-2 with all goals scored in the first half. In the second round, they defeated 12th-ranked NC State 2-0 with goals from freshmen Brian Benedict and Joey Valenti. In the quarterfinals, Duke played Loyola of Baltimore, winning 2-1 and ending Loyola's 30-game winning streak.
Duke then faced Ivy League Champion Harvard, winning 3-1 with two early goals by Kerr. The national championship game was held on December 13 in the Tacoma Dome against 12th-ranked Akron Zips. Duke won 1-0 with a goal by Tom Stone, assisted by Joey Valenti and Carl Williamson. Starting goalkeeper Mark Dodd made three saves for his ninth shutout of the season.
Following the championship, John Kerr was awarded the 1986 Hermann Trophy and the National Player of the Year Award by the Missouri Athletic Club. Teammates Stone and Weadock were named most valuable offensive and defensive players of the national championship game, respectively. Freshman Robert Probst was named to the 1986 Men's All-Freshman Team by Soccer America. Undefeated at home (12-0-1), the team returned to Duke with their first national championship trophy in any sport, greeted by the cheers of the campus community and Duke President Keith Brodie.
Schedule DateOpponentRankStadium(City)ResultF–AScorersAttendanceRecord(Conference) September 6 vs. * Method RoadRaleigh, NC 1–2 Kerr Jr. 169 0–1–0 September 7 vs. * Method Road 6–0 Unknown 374 1–1–0 September 12 * Koskinen StadiumDurham, NC 5–0 Unknown Unknown 2–1–0 September 14 * Koskinen Stadium 5–0 Unknown Unknown 3–1–0 September 17 * Koskinen Stadium 6–0 Unknown Unknown 4–1–0 September 20 at Method Road 3–4 Unknown Unknown 4–2–0(0–1–0) September 23 * Koskinen Stadium 5–1 Unknown Unknown 5–2–0 September 28 Koskinen Stadium 5–2 Unknown Unknown 6–2–0(1–1–0) October 1 * Koskinen Stadium 2–0 Unknown Unknown 7–2–0 October 4 at Byrd StadiumCollege Park, MD 0–1 Unknown Unknown 7–3–0(1–2–0) October 8 at * UNCG StadiumGreensboro, NC 3–0 Unknown Unknown 8–3–0 October 12 * Koskinen Stadium 1–1OT Unknown Unknown 8–3–1 October 15 * Koskinen Stadium 1–0 Unknown Unknown 9–3–1 October 19 at * Stone StadiumColumbia, SC 3–2OT Unknown Unknown 10–3–1 October 22 Koskinen Stadium 2–1 Unknown Unknown 11–3–1(2–2–0) October 26 Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA 0–4 Unknown Unknown 11–4–1(2–3–0) November 1 vs. * Elvin Drake StadiumLos Angeles, CA 1–0 Unknown Unknown 12–4–1 November 2 vs. * Elvin Drake Stadium 0–3 Unknown Unknown 12–5–1 November 9 Koskinen Stadium 1–0 Unknown Unknown 13–5–1(3–3–0) November 16 No. 13 South CarolinaFirst round No. 10 Koskinen Stadium 3–2 Unknown Unknown 14–5–1 November 23 at No. 17 Round of 16 No. 10 Method Road 2–0 Unknown Unknown 15–5–1 November 30 at No. 25 Quarterfinals No. 10 Koskinen Stadium 2–1 Unknown Unknown 16–5–1 December 7 Semifinals No. 10 Koskinen Stadium 3–1 Unknown Unknown 17–5–1 December 13 vs. No. 12 National championship No. 10 Tacoma DomeTacoma, WA 1–0 Stone 4,652 18–5–1
Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie
Awards and honors John Kerr ACC Men's Soccer Player of the Year All-ACC First-Team Hermann Trophy ISAA Player of the Year MAC Player of the Year NSCAA First-Team All-American NSCAA First-Team All-South Region NSCAA Player of the Year Soccer America First-Team All-American Soccer America Player of the Year Award
Tom Stone All-ACC Second-Team NSCAA Third-Team All-South Region
Kelly Weadock All-ACC Second-Team NSCAA First-Team All-South Region
References