Duquesne (2-5-2, 0-0-1), coming of a suspended nonconference game vs. Cleveland State on Tuesday, heads to Richmond, Va. to face VCU (6-4-0, 2-0-0) in an Atlantic 10 Conference game at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Tuesday night's game vs. CSU was called at the half - with the score tied at 0-0 - after repeated sightings of lightning in the Pittsburgh area. This is the second A-10 match for the Dukes.  

THE SERIES VS. VCU

• The series is tied at 2-2-1.
• Duquesne won the last meeting, 1-0 in overtime, on a penalty kick by Diego Vieira in the 93rd minute on Oct. 15, 2016 in Pittsburgh.
• This is DU's second trip to Richmond to face VCU, the first was a 0-0 tie on Oct. 17, 2015.
• Senior Noah Mehta is the only member of the current Duquesne roster who has played in a game at VCU's Sports Backers Field.
• The Dukes and Rams share one common nonconference opponent in Temple. DU tied the Owls at home (1-1) on Sept. 16, While VCU defeated Temple, 1-0, at home on Aug. 31.
• VCU was picked to finish second (with four first place votes) in the preseason poll of Atlantic 10 coaches.
• Duquesne is 0-3 on the road and VCU is 5-3 at home this season.

QUICK HITS

• DU opened Atlantic 10 play with a 2-2 tie vs. Saint Joseph's last Saturday. The Dukes rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to tie it on goals from Manel Busquets (49') and Ian Larson (61'). Senior Austin Stout came off the bench to start the second half and assisted on both goals. Stout also added a pair of shots in 60 minutes. DU outshot SJU 24-6 (16-3 on goal) and had 12 corners to zero for the Hawks.
• Duquesne ranked first nationally in corner kicks per game through Wednesday (currently at 8.67, 66 in nine games). DU had 16 corners - one shy of the school record - in its 3-0 win over Detroit Mercy on Sept. 2. The Dukes have had nine or more corners in a game five times, including 12 vs. Saint Joseph's.
• DU, which outshot SJU 24-6 last Saturday (16-3 on goal), ranks ninth nationally in shots per game (16.2) and eighth in shots on goal per game (7.3).
• Duquesne has started at least six freshmen in all nine matches this season (DU has started seven freshmen five times). Manel Busquets (Spain), Nathan Dossantos (Canada), Rob Dymond (New Zealand), Moritz Kappelsberger (Germany), Domenic Nascimben (Australia), Kendall Newman, Gylfi Stefansson (Iceland) and Eric Zech (Germany) have all started at least once. Of the eight freshmen who have started, seven are international players.
• Overall, DU has 10 international players, including returners seniors Noah Mehta (Canada) and Olav Hovstad (Norway).
• The Dukes have 15 first-year players on the 2018 roster including 14 freshmen and junior Pitt transfer M Alec Anselmo. Anselmo played in 30 matches with 16 starts in two seasons with the Panthers. Anselmo made his first career start as a Duke at Wright State.
• Busquets and Dymond lead the Dukes in goals (3). Busquets is tied with Mehta for the team lead in assists (3).Busquets leads the team with nine points, followed by Dymond and Mehta with seven points each.
• Mehta, who entered this season with two career points, has six in his past five games.
• DU's 13 goals this season have come from seven players: Rob Dymond (3), Manel Busquets (3),  Ian Larson (2).Noah Mehta (2), Zion Beaton (1), Zach Hall (1) and Gylfi Stefansson (1).
• Junior Zach Hall (15 points, 6 goals) and senior Ian Larson (16 points, 6 goals) are DU's top current career point-getters and goal scorers.
• Dymond leads the team in shots with 21, followed by Busquets and Hall (17 each). Busquets and Dymond have sent the most shots on goal with 11 and 10 respectively.
• Mehta leads the team in career games with 54. Larson is second with 48.

UP NEXT

• 10/10 vs. Fordham
• 10/13 at George Mason
• 10/17 at Saint Louis