Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team continued a three-game homestand Thursday, earning a 1-0 triumph over Rhode Island. While improving to 6-0 at Rooney Field for the first time in school history, the Dukes own an overall mark of 8-2 (.800) during the 2024 season.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
A back-and-forth affair with both teams creating chances on the offensive end, Duquesne landed the only goal of the contest at 67:25. A lob into the left wing seemed to create a chance for junior forward
Margey Brown, who was tripped up in the box and the Dukes were awarded a penalty kick. Junior
Mackenzie Muir moved to the spot for the opportunity, but Rhode Island goalkeeper Abigail McCarthy was issued a yellow card. Muir followed by burying the ball in the back of the right corner of the net, giving Duquesne a 1-0 edge. It marked the fourth goal of the season for Muir, each of which have come at home.
QUOTABLE
"We talked about trying to catch them in pockets and counter, but we struggled to make the right connections," interim head coach
Dave Gray said. "At halftime we talked about keeping our feet moving more, not being so stagnant with our passing. We did a better job being more active once we got the ball in the attacking third in the second half. Defensively, they're just working. They're grinding, they're blocking shots and sacrificing their body at times. They also, at times, have been super calm, even under pressure. Pinging balls around. I thought in the first half the defense did a great job managing the tempo of the game."
STANDING TALL
Senior goalkeeper
Maddy Neundorfer helped the goal from Muir stand, picking up a pair of saves in notching her fourth shutout of the year. No save was bigger than at 78:14, when the Rams were awarded a free kick. Kaia Rice lifted a ball toward the net, with Neundorfer getting a hand on it before it hit the crossbar. The Dukes were able to clear, but URI was awarded a corner kick a little over a minute later before a shot from Courtney Poon was high. Neundorfer moved into sole possession of third place all-time at Duquesne for shutouts, as her performance Thursday against Rhode Island (4-4-2 | 1-1-0 Atlantic 10) marked the 14th of her career. Only Kyra Murphy (2015-18) and Kelly O'Neill (1995-98) have more in program history with 25 and 21, respectively.
QUOTABLE
"Maddy was fantastic for us tonight," Gray said. "Couple of big saves. The one in the first half that looked innocent at the near post might've been the best save she made all night, because that ball took a hop right at her feet. Not only did she make the save, but she kept it so no one could get another touch on it."
NOTES
At 8-2 (.800), Duquesne is off to its best start through 10 matches in program history … In 2005, the Dukes began the year 5-0 at home before suffering their first loss at Rooney Field and were 7-2-1 (.750) through 10 games of the season ... The most home wins in a season for Duquesne came in 1995, the program's first season as an NCAA Division I program, with eight (8-2) … Duquesne held a 13-9 edge in shots, including a 3-2 edge in shots on goal … The Dukes failed to register a corner kick in the first half, with URI owning a 6-1 advantage in the category overall … Senior
Mackenzie Leeder and juniors
Lindsay Krafchick and
Eva LaVecchia have played a full 90 minutes in six consecutive games.
UP NEXT
Duquesne hosts Dayton Sunday, Sept. 29, with a 1:00 p.m. match at Rooney Field to wrap up a three-game homestand.
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