Pirates Drop Season Opener to Duke in 2-1 Loss

Published: Friday, August 21, 2026

by Thomas Mazurowski

DURHAM, N.C. – The Seton Hall Pirates (0-1-0) fell to the Duke Blue Devils (1-0-0) 2-1 in their season opener Thursday night. 

Defender Charlie Herley found the back of the net almost immediately for the Pirates. A well-placed free kick from Til Kauschke and a header from the graduate put Seton Hall on the board in only the fifth minute. 

The Pirates kept consistent possession in the opening minutes before Duke found momentum. Two shots in quick succession forced goaltender Devin Armstrong to get active, saving his first ball of the season against a high shot from Max Steelman.

Despite a fluid defense holding off Duke early on, the Blue Devils began to rack up possession time while outshooting the Pirates. Excessive foul trouble put the Hall on the backfoot for much of the first half as well, including three yellow cards as the minutes wound down. 

Duke’s pressure paid off in the 38th minute. Ari Racaj evened the score from the far post following a free kick off the foot of Ethan Congleton. 

Seton Hall had no response as the Blue Devils continued to wear them down. By the end of the first half, Duke took nine shots, six of which were on goal, compared to only four from the Hall. Five of the six corner kicks in the half belonged to the home squad.  

The early going of the second half was much of the same. Fouls from Seton Hall set up extended possessions for Duke. Jack Ottley scored in only the 51st minute off a picture-perfect pass from Ulfur Bjornsson, stuffing into the lower left and putting Duke ahead definitively. 

Fatigue and physicality overtook the pitch for the remainder of the half. Slower play in the minutes following Duke’s go-ahead goal transitioned into rough and desperate exchanges. Five of the game’s nine yellow cards were issued in just ten minutes, including all three of the Blue Devils’ cautions. 

The Hall registered just two more shots after their final yellow in the 67th minute. The last twenty minutes were a stalemate, ultimately handing Duke the win. 

Discipline and offensive presence proved to be the deciding factors in this matchup. Seton Hall committed 19 fouls against Duke’s 14 infractions, on top of earning twice the number of yellows as the home team. The Pirates were outshot 15-8 by the Blue Devils, including a nine to one ratio for shots on goal.

Seton Hall will continue their campaign in Durham against the Campbell Fighting Camels on Sunday at 12 p.m.

Thomas Mazurowski can be reached at thomas.mazurowski@student.shu.edu 

Posted in: sports,