Pittsburgh, Pa. – Duquesne University women's soccer head coach
Jessica Giegucz announced the roster for the 2026 campaign Wednesday, which includes 15 returners and 13 newcomers as part of the program's latest recruiting class.
WELCOME BACK
The Dukes return five starters from a 2025 squad that posted an overall record of 12-5-2 (.684) with Giegucz in her first year at the helm, including a mark of 7-3 (.700) in the Atlantic 10. Among the returning starters for Duquesne are forwards
Kaitlyn Killinger and
Kayla Leseck, who combined for 20 points last season courtesy of five goals and 10 assists. Killinger and Leseck each started all 19 games for the Dukes in 2025, with Killinger supplying four goals and three assists and Leseck tying for second in the Atlantic 10 in assists (7) with Izzy Luebbert of Saint Louis and Liina Tervo of Fordham. Leseck enters her final season on the Bluff having appeared in 57 career games, including 36 starts, and owns 14 career points thanks to a pair of goals and 10 assists.
WELCOME ABOARD
A total of 13 new Dukes dot the roster in 2026, including four transfers and nine freshmen. A closer look at each of the student-athletes that will compete for Duquesne for the first time this fall (click on their name for a deeper dive into the new Dukes) …
| No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Year |
Hometown |
| 25 |
Carolyn Arcoleo |
D |
Fr. |
West Islip, N.Y. |
| 2 |
Ashlyn Basinger |
F |
Sr. |
Waynesburg, Pa. |
| 23 |
Claire Beasley |
F/MF |
Fr. |
Arlington, Va. |
| 21 |
Allison Bechtel |
MF |
Fr. |
Dillsburg, Pa. |
| 5 |
Lily De Jesus |
D |
Fr. |
Gibsonia, Pa. |
| 15 |
Grace Fogarty |
F |
Sr. |
Chaska, Minn. |
| 22 |
Kiley Johnson |
D |
Sr. |
Langhorne, Pa. |
| 29 |
Molly Kinsella |
MF |
Fr. |
Arlington, Va. |
| 12 |
Addy Mills |
D |
Fr. |
Sellersville, Pa. |
| 13 |
Emma Sanderow |
F |
Fr. |
Lewis Center, Ohio |
| 16 |
Sadie Shapiro |
F |
Fr. |
Scotch Plains, N.J. |
| 1 |
Emma Van Meter |
GK |
Jr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| 8 |
Ella Zech |
F/MF |
Fr. |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
QUOTABLE
"We're excited to welcome such a talented group of players to the Bluff," Giegucz said. "We worked hard to find the correct blend of talent and character to continue the success of the program. Our freshman class brings a competitive drive, and we feel honored to invite their athleticism, enthusiasm and growth into the fall season and beyond. Our transfers add the perfect amount of experience that we know will continue to propel forward the goals of our program. We can't wait to see the dynamic between our returners and newcomers this fall."
GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING
The 13 new players to join the Dukes for the 2026 campaign hail from six different states, including Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Among the transfers, Van Meter spent the last two years at the University of Pittsburgh, while Fogarty played for three years at the University of Minnesota. Basinger began her career at Maryland before spending the last two years at Cincinnati and concluded her prep career with 116 career goals at Waynesburg Central, while Johnson spent three seasons at USC Upstate. She appeared in 49 career games for the Spartans and helped USC Upstate claim both the 2024 Big South regular season and tournament championship as well as the program's first automatic bid to the NCAA Championship in school history.
CAPTAIN O CAPTAIN
Serving as team captains for the 2026 campaign will be seniors
Jayden Sharpless and
Anna Bundy. Sharpless has been a member of the starting lineup in each of Duquesne's last 56 games dating back to the beginning of the 2023 season, the only member of the Dukes to do so. Last season she tied for team-high honors in minutes played, playing all 1,730 minutes, and owns a goal and an assist during her career. Bundy logged a goal and an assist last season for the Dukes in starting all 19 games and over the last three seasons has appeared in 54 contests, posting four goals and nine points. She was named to the 2023 All-Atlantic 10 Rookie Team.
CAMP SEASON
Duquesne returns to campus Tuesday, July 28, and will begin preparation for the 2026 season with its first practice Wednesday, July 29. The Dukes will open the year with three consecutive road games, beginning Wednesday, August 12, with a 4:30 p.m. contest at Eastern Michigan. Duquesne will also visit Cleveland State (August 20) and West Virginia (August 23) before opening the home portion of its 2026 schedule Thursday, August 27, at 7:00 p.m. against Akron. The tilt against the Zips is the opening contest of a three-game homestand at Rooney Field.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
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