Pittsburgh, Pa. – In one of its most complete performances of the season, the Duquesne University women's soccer team stayed unbeaten in Atlantic 10 play Thursday with a 3-0 victory over George Washington at Rooney Field. The Dukes improved to 6-5-4 (.533) overall during the 2023 campaign, including 3-0-4 (.714) in the A-10.
Firing off a season-high 30 shots, just seven shy of the number the Dukes accrued in their previous three matches, Duquesne spent the majority of the night on the attack.
In the 23rd minute,
Maya Matesa scooped up a loose ball and fired a laser from 25 yards out that beat outstretched goalkeeper Ainsley Lumpe into the lower right part of the goal for her fourth of the season.
"I used to do that shot all the time before college," Matesa said regarding the placement of her goal. "I hadn't done it yet here, so when I found myself in that spot, I knew the feel and how to hit it on my foot. I just let it rip."
The Dukes finished with 11 shots in the first 45 minutes of play before opening it up after the break.
In the 50th minute,
Karley Steinher cleared the first corner of the game for the Revolutionaries before
Margey Brown took over.
Dribbling to midfield, George Washington's Avril Silva tried to slow the attack, but Brown got past the defender and raced downfield. She won a footrace against another of the Revolutionaries and finessed a shot under Lumpe to the bottom corner for her third goal of the season and a 2-0 lead for Duquesne.
"It's not something we train for a lot," head coach
Al Alvine said regarding the corner clear from Steinher that led to the second goal. "Credit to Margey to recognize the opportunity. There was a lot she had to do from the time that she got the ball to the time she scored."
In all the Dukes rattled off 19 shots in the second 45 minutes and of their 30 shots overall, 13 were on goal. Lumpe finished with 10 saves for the Revolutionaries but allowed the third goal of the contest on a penalty kick.
Looking to add to the lead late, Matesa rolled around a defender before being taken down in the box. Sent to the line for the penalty kick, she picked up her second goal of the contest and fifth of the season with under 12 minutes to play to settle the final score.
"I was coming down the line and I thought I could take it in," Matesa said, "I see someone coming so it became a one-on-one and then she just clipped me. I had to compose myself to take that penalty shot. I think we play our best when we're loose. That's the key. Having fun going into a game gives us a good mindset."
A total of 11 Dukes had at least one shot in the game, including seven that posted at least three. Matesa and
Mackenzie Muir each finished with four shots to lead Duquesne, while George Washington (3-9-3 / 0-6-1 A-10) notched five shots, with just one that was on goal and was turned away by
Maddy Neundorfer.
"The message was go out, have fun and create chances," Alvine said. "This is three points that we needed."
The Dukes sit in fifth place in the A-10 with 13 points after Thursday's victory and conclude a two-game homestand at Rooney Field by welcoming La Salle Sunday, Oct. 16, for a 1:00 p.m. start. The Explorers are tied with Dayton for second place in the conference standings with 18 points, one shy of A-10 leader Saint Louis. The Dukes and Billikens meet in the Gateway to the West Thursday, Oct. 19, at 8:00 p.m.
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