ST. LOUIS – Facing the top team in the conference, the No. 8 Duquesne Dukes fell to No. 1 Saint Louis, 5-0, in the Atlantic 10 Championship quarterfinal round on Saturday afternoon at Hermann Stadium. The Dukes end the campaign with a 6-8-3 record.
The Billikens (15-3-2, 9-0-1 A10), who have not lost in conference or at home this season, scored 42 seconds into the contest and built a 3-0 lead after 34 minutes. Saint Louis added goals in the 70th and 79 minutes in the second half to secure a semifinal matchup next weekend.
The Dukes could not tally a goal, as the Dukes were held to one shot in the first half. Duquesne recorded seven shots in the second half, including four that reached the net in hopes of cutting into the deficit.
Despite the score,
Megan Virgin posted a season-high 11 saves in nets for the Dukes. The sophomore from Cannonsburg came within one save of her career-high, as she made 12 stops as a member of the LIU-Brooklyn against Farleigh Dickinson in 2018.
Deena DeBaldo led the team offensively with five shots and three of the Dukes' four shots on goal. The junior finishes her excellent junior season with tied her third in program history in goals (9) and distributed four assists for 22 points. She came within one goal of tying the school record for goals in a season, and her 22 points ranks fourth best all-time for the Dukes.
In 2019, the Dukes continued its success at Rooney Field, as Duquesne posted a 6-1-1 record on the Bluff. The Class of 2020 will enter their senior season with a 19-5-4 record at home.
The Dukes, who do not lose a single member of their team to graduation, will bring an experienced squad to the 2020 season, with seven incoming seniors and 14 incoming juniors.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- 1' | Saint Louis' Alyssa Seitzer scores on a pass from Hannah Friedrich.
- 25' | The Billikens grab a 2-0 lead after Courtney Reimer finds the back of the net on a pass from Friedrich.
- 34' | Annabelle Copeland's fifth goal of the season came net, with featured an assist from Abbie Miller.
- 70' | Reimer's second goal of the game came off a rebound. The goal was assisted by Isabel Burke.
- 79' | SLU's final goal came from Megan Nixon on a through ball from Brionna Halverson.
