Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team opened its 31st NCAA Division I season Sunday, scoring three times in the second half to erase a 2-0 halftime deficit and earn a 3-2 victory over Kent State in Kent, Ohio, at Zoeller Field at Dix Stadium. The victory came in the first game for Jessica Giegucz as head coach of the Dukes.
 
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
The Dukes trailed at halftime, 2-0, but were able to get on the board for their first goal of the 2025 season courtesy of senior forward Maya Matesa at 68:16. Junior Kayla Leseck dribbled down the near sideline to the corner before placing a perfect pass to Matesa in the box, who curled to her left before twisting a shot that found the far left of the goal and out of the reach of Kent State goalkeeper Leah Shaffer to cut Duquesne's deficit in half. The Dukes then scored twice within the span of 46 seconds, both on the penalty kick, to grab the lead. The first score from the spot came from senior forward Mackenzie Muir, who was awarded the penalty kick after the Golden Flashes were whistled for a hand ball. Muir tied the contest, 2-2, at 71:01, and just 46 seconds later the Dukes were awarded another opportunity from the spot. This time it was Matesa, who collected the eventual game-winning marker at 71:47.
 
QUOTABLE
"I'm really proud of the team's resiliency this afternoon," Giegucz said. "I'm also proud of our coaching staff, as we made the adjustments to help the team find success. It's very exciting to celebrate small victories throughout the course of a game by individual players that show progress not only on their personal goals but to help the team. This truly was an amazing team win. The players are fully committed to working for each other, and they're dedicated to team goals."
 
OPENING REMARKS
Kent State (1-1), which opened its 2025 campaign with a 1-0 triumph at Cleveland State (8/14), scored twice in the opening half to grab the early advantage. Samantha Miller collected the first goal of the game for the Golden Flashes, taking a feed from Kiyomi McCausland right in front of the net and connecting for a laser that got behind Duquesne goalkeeper Ali Hughes at 23:36. It marked Miller's second goal in as many games to open the season. KSU added its second goal with just under three minutes to go in the first half. Maya Justice took a shot that was turned away by Hughes, but she corralled the rebound and fed Isabelle Leofanti, who was alone in front of the net and was able to score at 42:26.
 
A DAY OF FIRSTS
Giegucz is the first head coach in program history to earn a victory in their first game on the sidelines in a true road contest thanks to the triumph at Dix Stadium. Former head coach James Walker (2003-06) was also victorious in his Duquesne debut with a 2-1 win over Howard (8/29/03) in a match that was played in Akron, Ohio, as part of the Akron Tournament. Hughes, meanwhile, earned her first NCAA Division I start in her NCAA debut and notched four saves for the Dukes, including three in the second half. Arguably the biggest save of the contest came with just three minutes remaining, as Hughes was able to stop a shot by Miller in her effort to tie the contest.
 
NOTES
Duquesne has won four of its last five season openers and improved to 14-15-2 (.484) all-time in the first game of a season … The triumph also marked just the second season-opening win on the road in program history and the first since Sept. 2, 1998, a 4-1 victory at Robert Morris … In addition to Hughes earning her first NCAA Division I start Sunday, she was joined by three other Dukes making their first respective start on the Bluff, including junior midfielder Anna Bundy, junior forward Kaitlyn Killinger and junior defender Reagan Basehore … Duquesne owned a 15-10 advantage in shots, including 8-6 on goal … Kent State was whistled for 12 fouls compared to seven for the Dukes and also owned a 6-4 edge in corner kicks … Basehore was part of a back line that included seniors Eva LaVecchia and Lindsay Krafchick, as each of the trio logged a full 90 minutes … Also playing a full 90 were Leseck and junior Jayden Sharpless.
 
UP NEXT
Duquesne welcomes Saint Francis to Rooney Field Thursday, August 21, for a 1:00 p.m. match to open the home portion of its 2025 slate. It is the first game of a soccer doubleheader on the Bluff, as the men's program will take on Seton Hill at 4:00 p.m.  
 
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