Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team capped a perfect 2-0 homestand Sunday, celebrating its senior class before earning a 1-0 victory over George Mason at Rooney Field. The Dukes improved to 9-3-1 (.731) overall during the 2025 season, including 4-1 (.800) in the Atlantic 10.
 
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Dominating in time of possession almost the entire 90 minutes, the Dukes were able to get an early goal to stand in the only score of the contest. Off a throw-in, junior forward Kaitlyn Killinger was able to turn on her defender to break toward the goal, only to turn again and finding an opening at the far corner of the top of the box. She unfurled a shot with her left foot that found the upper left corner of the net, beyond the outstretched arms of George Mason goalkeeper Libby Davy at 16:19 to give the Dukes a 1-0 advantage. Duquesne held a 13-3 advantage in shots in the opening 45 minutes and improved on those numbers after the break, owning a 15-0 cushion to finish with a +25 in the department overall, 28-3. In total, 13 of the shots for the Dukes were on target compared to two for the Patriots.
 
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"That was a beautiful goal, and it was self-created," head coach Jessica Giegucz said. "She has that in her wheelhouse. It's fun to see these girls really develop their own style within our system. I think everyone that comes to these games is seeing is a building of confidence as they continue to play. I'm really big on my mentor role. My job is to make sure they believe in themselves and I'm a mentor for them through it. Anytime I see them have success I'm proud of them because of the small role that I get to play in a short period of time in their life. Seeing them grow and develop is great."
 
ROONEY RULES
Duquesne improved to 6-0 at home this season thanks to the win over George Mason (4-7-2 | 3-2-0 Atlantic 10) and in those contests has outscored its opponents, 18-1. Junior goalkeeper Ali Hughes garnered her seventh shutout of the year Sunday, including her fourth consecutive at Rooney Field. Hughes and the defensive backline haven't allowed a goal since the 69:40 mark of a 4-1 victory over Cleveland State (9/4) over a month ago. Hughes finished with six saves in that win over the Vikings and in the four games since at Rooney Field has collected 11 saves. Overall this year, Hughes has compiled 44 saves, an .800 save percentage and an 0.85 goals against average for the Dukes.
 
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"George Mason is a very good team, so as long as we could keep the ball away from them, having those skills of possession was important," head coach Jessica Giegucz said. "We asked them to find another gear, and in the second half the game shifted a little bit. I was proud of my team for making adjustments, not only to a formation change in the first half, but to the emotional side of the game as it started to play out. The communication piece is really important. We experienced three different formations during the game. They're IQ and communication is certainly helping them."
 
SENIOR SALUTE
A total of 11 seniors were honored prior to the game Sunday, a group that over the last four seasons has amassed 166 points thanks to 62 goals and 42 assists. Of the senior class, both Lindsay Krafchick and Eva LaVecchia played a full 90 minutes Sunday in the win over the Patriots, while forwards Maya Matesa (6) and Brianna Moore (4) combined for 10 of the 28 shots for the Dukes.
 
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"I said to the senior class when I got hired that they're going to leave a legacy, and it's not about any one person or any one class," Giegucz said. "It's about the team and what the team can produce. Everyone is doing their part to make sure everyone knows it's about the team."
 
NOTES
In 72 minutes junior forward Kayla Leseck fired a career-high eight shots, three of which were on target … Davy finished with 12 saves for the Patriots … The goal for Killinger was her third of the season … Both teams finished with three corner kicks … Duquesne has surpassed its Atlantic 10 victory total from last season thanks to the win Sunday against George Mason … Junior Jayden Sharpless has started each of Duquesne's last 50 games dating back to the beginning of the 2023 season, has logged a full 90 minutes in each of the 13 contests for the Dukes this season and has played a full 90 in exactly half (25-of-50) of her games on the Bluff.
 
UP NEXT
Duquesne takes to the road for its next contest, visiting Saint Louis Sunday, Oct. 12, for a 2:00 p.m. ET start at Hermann Stadium. It opens a stretch for the Dukes in which three of their final five games of the regular season are on the road.
 
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