May 5, 2008

Greer Sets NCAA Goals Record As No. 1 Duke Defeats St. John's, 16-9

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke's Zack Greer set the NCAA all-time record for goals as the top-ranked Blue Devils closed out the 2008 regular season with a 16-9 home victory over St. John's on Sunday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.

The Blue Devils, winners of eight in a row, improve to 16-1 while the Red Storm closes the year at 2-11. Duke extended its home winning streak to 18 games and have now won 37 straight contests versus unranked opponents. The Blue Devils' 16 wins this season match the fifth-highest single-season total in NCAA history, trailing only the 17 triumphs secured by Duke (2005 & 2007), Hofstra (2006) and Virginia (2006).

Greer, a senior from Whitby, Ontario, Canada, broke former N.C. State standout Stan Cockerton's 28-year old record of 193 goals with his 194th career tally at the 8:44 mark of the third period. Greer finished the day with seven goals to give him a nation-leading 56 on the season and 197 in his 64-game career. He also joined former Cornell great John French as the only two players in NCAA history to register three seasons with 55 or more goals. Greer posted an NCAA single-season record for freshmen with 57 goals in 2005 and added 67 markers last year.

The Blue Devils improved to 54-5 when Greer scores at least one goal and 38-0 when he posts three or more tallies. Greer has now scored seven goals in five career games.

"I knew the record was there but it was in the back of my mind," Greer said. "Obviously, we're looking to the playoffs now and individual records are something we don't concern ourselves with. It's nice to get it done and it's cool that it happened at home in the last regular season game, but we're looking forward to the playoffs. I came in as a midfielder and was just looking to get some playing time. We've had four great teams and I've been here for four great years with great players and that's what does it. It's the guys around you that make something like this happen."