Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team ran its winning streak to four Thursday, earning its first road victory of the 2024 campaign with a 2-0 triumph over Saint Francis U in Loretto, Pa., at Stokes Soccerplex. The Dukes improved to 5-1 (.833) overall during the 2024 season.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Almost 15 minutes into the contest, neither team was able to muster a shot, but sometimes all it takes is one. The Dukes struck first at exactly 15:00, as sophomore
Kayla Leseck passed to junior forward
Maya Matesa, who found her classmate,
Brianna Moore, who continued to stay in the groove offensively. The reigning Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week picked up her fifth goal of the season on the first shot of the match, sending it past SFU goalkeeper Emma Sawich to put Duquesne in front. Meanwhile, the defensive pressure kept the Red Flash off the scoresheet in the opening 45 minutes, as the Dukes didn't allow a shot in the first half.
HERE I GO AGAIN
The incredible start to the 2024 season for junior forward
Margey Brown added another chapter Thursday, as just over 11 minutes into the second half she found the back of the net yet again. It marks the sixth consecutive game to open the year that Brown has scored a goal, as picking up assists this time were juniors
Mackenzie Muir and
Lindsay Krafchick. All told, the Duquesne junior class collected seven points Thursday (two goals, three assists) atop the Allegheny Mountains and over the last three years have combined for 117 points.
THE TALLY
Just six matches into the 2024 season, Brown has accumulated 20 points thanks to eight goals and four assists. The seventh player in program history to reach the 20-point plateau in a season, Brown is tied for sixth in the Duquesne single-season annals for points along with Erin McKane, Audra Mathews and Katie O'Connor. McKane scored 20 points in the program's first season in NCAA Division I in 1995, Mathews followed in 2007 and O'Connor turned the trick in both 2016 and 2017. Mathews also owns the single-season standard for the Dukes in points with 27 thanks to eight goals and 11 assists in 2004.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
The pair of goals for the Dukes against Saint Francis U (2-3-2) were more than enough for senior goalkeeper
Maddy Neundorfer, who finished with three saves in picking up her second shutout of the 2024 campaign and 12th of her career. Meanwhile, the back line of senior
Mackenzie Leeder, Krafchick and junior
Eva LaVecchia played a full 90 minutes for the second consecutive match.
NOTES
Duquesne rattled off 19 shots Thursday against the Red Flash, including 14 on goal, with Sawich finishing with 12 saves for SFU … In six matches the Dukes have outshot their opponents, 133-53 … Junior
CeCe Scott returned to the starting lineup and aided the defense with 67 minutes worth of action … Saint Francis didn't pick up its first shot until 34 seconds into the second half, which was courtesy of Lily Cornwell … Sawich came up big early in the second half for the Red Flash, registering three saves in the span of 33 seconds to help keep the score 1-0 … Also playing a full 90 for Duquesne was sophomore
Jayden Sharpless, who posted a team-high five shots, including four on goal.
UP NEXT
The Dukes continue a three-game road trip Sunday, Sept. 15, with a 1:00 p.m. match at Youngstown State.
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