PITTSBURGH – Led by Denna DeBaldo's second-half hat trick, the Duquesne women's soccer team scored five second half goals to rout Youngstown State, 6-0, to close out non-conference play on Sunday afternoon at Rooney Field.

Duquesne's six goals in a single match are the most since the Dukes registered a 6-0 victory over Saint Francis on Sept. 23, 2016. The six scores is tied for the third-most goals in a  match in program-history. 

DeBaldo's career-day saw her score goals in the 46th, 59th and 78th minutes. The junior is the first Duke to record a hat trick since Dayna Fenech tallied three scores against Rhode Island on Oct. 25, 2015. She is one of just nine Dukes in program history to connect on three goals in one match.

Natalie Bell opened the scoring with her first-career goal in the 38th minute on an assist from her sister, Lauren Bell. After DeBaldo scored her first goal in the 46th minute, Jaimi Araujo struck for her first-career goal 38 seconds later on a penalty kick. DeBaldo netted her second goal in the 59th minute to make it a 4-0 contest. Tori Kopchak's first goal of the season and second of her career came next in the 61^st minute. DeBaldo finished the hat trick off of Lauren Bell's second assist of the day, which etched her name in the Duquesne record book.  

The Dukes open up A-10 play next Sunday, facing VCU at Rooney Field. The game is slated to start at 1:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Duquesne dominated the first half in terms of possession (57% to 43%), while outshooting the 'Guins 14-2 and 7-1 on goal, but the Dukes could only muster a single goal.
• Lauren Bell took possession down the right side of the offensive zone, before sending a cross to her sister Natalie. Natalie headed the ball to the left of the net, past the diving goalkeeper to give Duquesne the lead.
• 84 seconds after the second half began, DeBaldo took a pass from Sarah Wilkinson, who deposited a shot into the net.
• Araujo's first career goal came on a penalty kick, just 38 seconds after DeBaldo's first goal. Araujo sent a shot to the bottom right corner of the net, which evaded the Penguin keeper.
• Natalie Bell's first career assist led to DeBaldo's second goal of the game and the fourth of the season.
• Kopchak's score in the 61st minute came at the top of the box. The goal was unassisted.
• Lauren Bell picked up her second helper of the contest in the 78th minute, finding DeBaldo to the left side of the box. DeBaldo's shot went in between the legs of the Guin's keeper, which marked the hat trick and Duquesne's sixth goal of the contest.  
• Megan Virgin earned the victory for the Dukes, posting two saves in 71:43 minutes of action.
• Duquesne led 28-6 in shots, including a 17-2 mark on goal.
• The Dukes held a possession advantage of 54 percent to YSU's 46 percent.
• DeBaldo now has eight career goals and 20 career points.