Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team suffered its first home loss of the 2024 season Sunday, dropping a 2-1 decision to Dayton at Rooney Field. In concluding a three-game homestand, the Dukes dipped to 8-3 (.727) overall on the year, including 2-2 (.500) in the Atlantic 10.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
The Flyers struck twice in less than three minutes late in the first half in grabbing a 2-0 advantage at halftime. Opening the scoring at 41:13 was Kyra Karfonta, who took a cross from Maddie Bowman in front of the net and redirected it with her foot to the far left corner of the goal to give Dayton (9-3 | 3-1 Atlantic 10) a 1-0 edge. The Flyers continued the pressure after the opening marker, with Noel Blain scoring at 44:06 with her conference-leading ninth goal of the campaign. Karfonta provided an outlet pass to Bre Mendoza, who found Blain down the left wing. Lifting a shot with her left foot, senior goalkeeper
Maddy Neundorfer was able to graze it, but the ball found its way into the far right back corner of the net, giving Dayton a 2-0 lead.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT
For just the third time during the 2024 season the Dukes were outshot, with the Flyers owning an 18-10 cushion in the category Sunday, including a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal. In search of its first goal of the contest after halftime and looking to cut its deficit in half, Duquesne was able to get on the board late. Junior forward
Maya Matesa found daylight in the midfield, and she was able to locate redshirt freshman
Hailey Longwell on the right wing, who lifted a shot past Batoul Reda to help the Dukes close to within 2-1 at 84:03. The goal set up a frenetic final five minutes, but Duquesne was unable to get a shot off in an attempt at the equalizer.
NOTES
Neundorfer finished with four saves for the Dukes Sunday against the Flyers … Junior forward
Margey Brown recorded a pair of shots, both of which were on goal … The goal from Longwell snapped a streak of 12 consecutive goals for Duquesne scored by a member of the junior class … Matesa picked up the assist on Longwell's marker, which was her fifth goal of the season … Longwell is one of four Dukes that have scored at least 10 points this year and her five goals have come on just 10 shots on goal … Duquesne was issued a pair of yellow cards in the final 10 minutes of play.
UP NEXT
Four of Duquesne's final six matches of the 2024 regular season will come on the road, including three of its last four. The Dukes head to the Bronx, N.Y., Thursday, Oct. 3, for a 7:00 p.m. match against Fordham before returning home to host Saint Louis Sunday, Oct. 6, at 1:00 p.m. at Rooney Field.
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