Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University men's soccer team capped an unbeaten regular season at Rooney Field Saturday, posting a 3-0 victory over VCU on Senior Day. The win helped the Dukes improve to 9-3-2 (.714) overall during the 2026 campaign, including 6-1 (.857) in the Atlantic 10. Thanks to triumph, Duquesne sits atop the conference standings with 18 points, two points ahead of Saint Louis, which was a 4-0 winner over Loyola Chicago Saturday.
QUICK STRIKE PART DEUX
Opening on the attack has worked in recent weeks, and the Dukes stuck to the script against the Rams. An outlet pass from redshirt freshman
Steel Bayer led to
Jaxon Ervin racing down the far sideline. He laced a cross into the box, with both
Cody Da and
Jameson Michel converging in front of VCU goalkeeper Trevor Maloney. The ball skipped past Da, and Michel was able to knock down and collect the ball before firing it into the net to give Duquesne a 1-0 lead at 6:01. Just over 12 minutes later, the Dukes were able to extend the advantage. Michel lifted a high ball with his left foot on the near sideline that found redshirt senior
Ashwin Menon, who provided a header. Sophomore
Hákon Dagur Matthíasson explored the perfect position, tipping the ball off Menon's header into the net at 19:07 to push the lead for Duquesne to 2-0.
QUOTABLE
"Results. That's the word," head coach
Chase Brooks said. "Result is what matters most. I thought we did enough. It wasn't pretty in certain moments, and that's going to happen sometimes. VCU is an extremely quality team, and I don't think their record is nearly indicative of who they are as a program and the things that they've accomplished. We did what we needed to do tonight to get the result. Our ability to start fast and get after it, if you're in the lead a minute, five minutes, 10 minutes into the game, obviously it changes the game plan for the opponent. It's going to really help your cause."
RON JON SURF SHOP
Duquesne withstood pressure from VCU in the second half, as the Rams had multiple opportunities to get back into the contest. No save was bigger than at 74:59, as Theo Drennan unleashed a laser that redshirt senior goalkeeper
Sam Coss was able to block with his left hand while diving to his left. VCU (2-9-3 | 2-4-1 Atlantic 10) stayed on the attack, and Ty Johnson was able to get a shot off, but junior
Ofek Sasson was in position in front of the goal line to block the shot for the team save to help keep the clean sheet intact. The defensive intensity paid off less than 10 minutes later, as the Dukes were able to spread out, with junior
Roni Badler going on the run and beating Maloney at 87:18 to clinch the fifth consecutive victory in Atlantic 10 play with his second goal of the campaign.
QUOTABLE
"What excellence is, is trying to be better and always looking for more," Brooks said. "How can we improve? I think this group right now is no different. You saw moments and flashes of it tonight of what we're capable of doing. Obviously we got the goals in the back of the net, and that's what wins you games, but there is still another level still to hit. We've gotten close a few times, but we're still going to strive for it."
NOTES
Coss finished with six saves in the win over the Rams and allowed just one goal in seven home games during the regular season, registering six clean sheets … Dagur Matthíasson is the 11th different member of the Dukes to score a goal in 14 games this season … In contrast, Coss has yielded eight goals on the year … Ervin earned his team-high fourth assist of the campaign, while the assist for Menon was his first of the year … Prior to the game, Duquesne honored its four players playing their final season on the Bluff, which included Ervin, Menon,
Blaize Hardy and
Pepo Bravo … Over its last 50 home games that dates back to the beginning of the 2021 season, the Dukes have posted a record of 37-6-7 (.810) … During its five-game winning streak in Atlantic 10 play, Duquesne has scored 15 goals (3.00 per contest) … Both teams finished with 11 shots, with the Rams holding a 7-5 edge in shots on goal … Each of the seven saves for the Dukes came in the second half.
UP NEXT
The final two games of the 2026 regular season for Duquesne come on the road, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 28, with a non-conference tilt at 7:00 p.m. in University Park, Pa., against Penn State. The Dukes will then close the regular season Saturday, Oct. 31, at La Salle. A victory over the Explorers would give Duquesne at least a share of the 2026 Atlantic 10 regular-season championship.
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