Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team continued a three-game road trip to open its 2026 season Thursday, picking up its first win of the year with a 3-0 triumph over Cleveland State at Krenzler Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The Dukes evened their overall record at 1-1 (.500).
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Looking to get into attack early, Duquesne failed to earn its first shot of the contest until 25 minutes had passed, but the Dukes made their first shot count. Off a corner kick, sophomore
Brynn Ramsey placed a perfect ball toward the far post, and senior
Kiley Johnson was able to capitalize. She leapt into the air and provided a header that found the back of the net and gave Duquesne a 1-0 lead at 27:07. The Dukes were outshot in the opening 45 minutes, 5-3, but went into the break with the lead thanks to the first career NCAA Division I strike for Johnson, who played 49 career games over three seasons at USC Upstate prior to transferring to the Bluff.
RAM JAM
Ramsey was at it again in the second half, parlaying her first career NCAA Division I start into opportunities for Duquesne. Senior goalkeeper
Ali Hughes came up with a huge save with just under 30 minutes to go to help keep the Dukes in front before Ramsey took a pass, dribbled down the far sideline in front of the bench and placing a cross into the box. The ball bounced off a defender for Cleveland State, and freshman
Allison Bechtel pounced, lacing a shot past Hayleigh Lewis of the Vikings to extend the lead for Duquesne to 2-0 at 70:21. Like Johnson in the first half, the goal for Bechtel marked her first at the NCAA Division I level in her second career contest. Ramsey picked up her second assist of the contest, with the two points her second time on the scoresheet in her career.
POTATO PATCH
The Dukes were able to seal the victory less than nine minutes later, with junior
Zoe Fries collecting her first career NCAA Division I goal. Senior
Kaitlyn Killinger laced a ball toward the top of the box, with two Dukes and a Cleveland State defender collapsing to get position. The ball sailed through, and Fries raced to track the ball down. Lewis committed by coming out to try and cover the ball, but Fries beat her to the spot and sliced it into the near corner to settle the scoring. Fries hadn't seen action for the Dukes since a 7-0 win over Slippery Rock Sept. 2, 2024, as a freshman, where she posted an assist in the victory.
NOTES
Duquesne is 6-5-1 (.542) in road games in two seasons under head coach
Jessica Giegucz … The Vikings held the advantage in shots, 9-6, with the Dukes posting a 4-3 cushion in shots on goal … Hughes collected three saves for Duquesne in earning her first clean sheet of the 2026 season and eighth of her career … Ramsey is the fourth member of the Dukes to earn their first career start through the first two games of the year … Johnson and seniors
Reagan Basehore and
Jayden Sharpless each played a full 90 minutes in the win … The Dukes finished with six corner kicks.
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