Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team returned home to Rooney Field Thursday, earning a 4-1 victory over Cleveland State to get back in the win column and improve to 4-1 (.800) overall during the 2025 season.
 
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Both teams were on the attack in the opening 45 minutes, and the only score of the opening frame came courtesy of senior forward Maya Matesa. The Vikings were looking to clear, with a defender passing the ball back to goalkeeper Hayleigh Lewis. Looking to get the ball downfield, Lewis saw her attempt blocked by Matesa, who grabbed control of the ball and laced it into the net at 10:46 to give the Dukes a 1-0 lead. The first half saw Duquesne own an 8-5 edge in shots, including a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal. Both junior goalkeeper Ali Hughes and Lewis each made three saves, with Matesa collecting her eighth goal of the year and 20th of her career. She becomes just the fourth player in program history to reach the 20-goal plateau, as she's tied for third in the Duquesne career record book with Erica Carey (2002-05).
 
BREAKOUT
Duquesne wasted little time extending its lead after halftime, as the second half saw the offense unleash 14 shots. Junior forward Kaitlyn Killinger was able to push the lead for the Dukes to 2-0 at 54:45. Charging down the far sideline, Killinger fired a shot that hit the right post. The ball ricocheted right back to her, and she was able to collect it and bury the second chance to notch her first career goal at Duquesne. Less than five minutes later the Dukes were on the attack again. Off a corner kick junior forward Jayden Sharpless tried to score on a header, but in an attempt to clear Emma Pompo of Cleveland State (1-3-1) headed the ball into its own net to give Duquesne a 3-0 cushion.
 
QUOTABLE
"Spreading the ball was one of the success factors," head coach Jessica Giegucz said. "First and second balls, it's loose ball scenarios. Cleveland State is a very good team. Their pressure is going to make things difficult for a lot of teams. We experienced that in the first half. I'm so pleased with Kaitlyn for her goal. I've been working very hard with her on keeping her momentum going forward. We took a little moment at halftime to remind her of what's she is capable of. I'm really excited she was able to put that one in the back of the net."
 
TURN THE PAIGE
Settling into her role as a key reserve for the Dukes, junior Paige Kuisis added the clincher barely a minute after Duquesne grabbed a 3-0 advantage. An outlet pass from Matesa saw Kuisis charge down the far sideline before unleashing a rocket that sailed into the back of the left of the net and gave the Dukes a commanding lead. The offensive outburst allowed Hughes to pick up her fourth win of the season as she matched a career high in saves (6) for the second consecutive game.
 
QUOTABLE
"It's great to see (Paige) being a real spark of energy off the bench," Giegucz said. "That kid works so hard, and she's all over the place. She does everything to the best of her ability. They're coming to the realization that they can be very good in front of goal and in those attacking moments. It's a confidence booster. Having composure to recycle plays so that we can attack is very important."
 
NOTES
Matesa moved into a tie with five other Dukes in the single-season records with her eighth goal, joining senior forward Brianna Moore, who posted eight markers last season … Four Dukes own nine goals in a season, while the single-season standard of 10 was set in 2003 by Lauren Bracco and matched by Katie O'Connor in 2015 … The three points for Matesa Thursday against the Vikings extended her career total to 47, moving her into fifth place all-time on the Bluff … Freshman Emerson Connelly earned her first career start for the Dukes on the back line and logged 70 minutes … Sharpless and senior Lindsay Krafchick each played a full 90 minutes in the win over Cleveland State … Duquesne has scored three goals in the second half in three of its first five games and owns a scoring margin of +10 (16-6) … The Vikings picked up their lone goal of the game at 69:40, with Mayra Sesmas recording her second goal of the year … The Dukes owned a 10-5 advantage in corner kicks … Duquesne has won 41 consecutive games when scoring three or more goals in a contest dating back to a 5-3 loss at Charlotte Sept. 25, 2009.
 
UP NEXT
Duquesne heads back on the road Sunday, Sept. 7, for a 1:00 p.m. match at Bowling Green.
 
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