FAIRFAX, VA. - Duquesne (8-1-3, 3-0-2), which entered the weekend tied for first in the Atlantic 10, ensured at least a share of the top spot in the conference with a 1-0 win at George Mason (2-8-1, 1-3-1) on Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Ask Ekeland scored his team-high fourth goal for the Dukes (53') who posted their seventh shutout and third clean sheet in five A-10 games.

DU keeper Domenic Nascimben was once again outstanding behind a solid defensive front in registering his seventh shutout of the season. Nascimben recorded all four of his saves in the second half.

The win was DU's fifth on the road (5-1-2), marking the first time since 2004 that a Duquesne team has posted at least five road victories.

Duquesne return home to face St. Bonaventure in a rare non-conference game vs. an A-10 opponent on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+) on Rooney Field.


HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nate Dragisich put DU's first shot on net in the third minute as Duquesne dominated possession early.
• Hopfer had a hard shot turned away by the foot of Mason keeper Jake Langley in the 18th minute.
• Hofper's shot was DU's fourth on net.
• Ask Ekeland had another hard shot stopped by Langley a few minutes later.
• Ekeland blistered another shot just right of the net in the 26th minute.
• DU keeper Domenic Nascimben was shaken up by a foul in the 31st minute, but remained in the game after a stoppage of play.
• Jayden Da took advantage of a Mason turnover and found Hugo Snowden for a shot that sailed right in the 34th minute.
• Duquesne dominated the opening 45, finishing with a 9-0 advantage in shots, including 5-0 on net.
• Hopfer put DU's sixth shot on net :18 into the second half.
• George Mason recorded its first shot - and first shot on goal - in the 50th minute.
• Duquesne countered quickly after a failed Mason cross to earn a corner one minute later.
• The Dukes maintained possession and earned a pair of corners, but was unable to convert.
• Duquesne's persistence was rewarded in the 53rd minute when Ekeland potted a free kick from just outside the box. It was his team-high fourth goal of the season.
• Nascimben made a fine diving save to his left to turn away a strike from GMUs Nicholas Prioli in the 58th minute.
• Nascimben went high to knock away a free kick from Balint Kocso in the 63rd minute as George Mason began to find its stride offensively.
• The DU defense blocked a pair of shots following the ensuing corner.
• Mason had its best chance of the half after saving a ball along the goal line and crossing it to Noah Raphael who had his shot blocked in the 73rd minute.
• Raphael put one over the DU crossbar in the 89th minute.
• The Dukes outshot the Patriots 15-8, including 8-4 on goal.
• George Mason finished the match with five yellow cards.