Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University men's soccer team wrapped up a three-game homestand at Rooney Field Saturday, falling to No. 7 Saint Louis, 1-0. In suffering their first loss of the 2025 season, the Dukes dipped to 5-1-2 (.750) overall, including 1-1 in the Atlantic 10.
 
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
The Billikens came out on the attack in the opening minutes, getting a pair of shots off in the first three-and-a-half minutes of the contest. The aggressiveness paid off, with Andrew Heckenlaible firing a shot that redshirt senior Diego Chavez was able to turn away. However, Theo Franca collected the rebound and was able to find the back of the net at 5:46 to give SLU the early lead. Saint Louis (4-1-3) was able to get off six shots before the Dukes connected for their first, as senior midfielder Grant McIntosh broke through for Duquesne at 23:57, a shot that was saved by Jeremi Abbonel.
 
ADJUSTMENTS
The Dukes were able to apply pressure early in the second half, getting four good looks in the span of just under 10 minutes. Sophomore Marko Rasmussen missed left on his attempt, as did freshman midfielder Hákon Dagur Matthíasson, who returned to the lineup Saturday after missing a 2-0 win over Saint Francis (9/17) and played 62 minutes as a reserve. Sophomore forward Miles Imparato followed by missing right of the goal, and the best chance for the Dukes came courtesy of sophomore forward Roni Badler, who laced a shot toward the top that Abonnel was able to turn away for the save.
 
QUOTABLE
"Once we solved their press we were able create numerous, good opportunities in the second half," head coach Chase Brooks. "Problem is you can't spot teams goals. You can't start slow. Against anybody, much less a team of their caliber. We let them dictate everything in the first 10, 15 minutes and ultimately you can't do that, especially at home. We've been better than that. Ultimately we didn't respond well. We created opportunities, we just waited too long."
 
NOTES
Saint Louis finished with a 17-8 edge in shots, including 8-3 in shots on goal … The Billikens also held a 10-4 advantage in corner kicks, while each team registered 11 fouls … Duquesne was issued four yellow cards, with Chavez picking up a red with under a minute left in the contest … Five of the eight shots for the Dukes were from reserves, including two each from Badler and Rasmussen … Both of the shots for Badler were on target … Sophomore Ofek Sasson, along with freshman Alex Posada, logged a full 90 on the backline for Duquesne … The Dukes used the same starting lineup for the second consecutive game.
 
QUOTABLE
"I thought we were a lot more dynamic in our attacking movement in the second half," Brooks said. "A lot of it came down to energy and belief in the system and trusting the process. I see a team that's close. It's not quite good enough, though. There are clearly things we have to work on. You can take a lot of positives from the game overall. We're an extraordinary team when everything is clicking and moving in the right direction, but when it's not, like when we're slow to start or making foolish fouls, those things are going to derail anybody. Doesn't matter how good you are. Just that discipline that's needed in those moments. That's the next step for us."
 
UP NEXT
Three games in seven days complete, Duquesne is off a week before traveling to Philadelphia, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 27, for a 2:00 p.m. match at Saint Joseph's.
 
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