Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team concluded a three-game road trip to open its 2026 season Sunday, holding No. 22 West Virginia off the scoreboard for 75 minutes until a pair of late goals lifted the Mountaineers to a 2-0 triumph in Morgantown, W.Va., at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium. The Dukes slipped to 1-2 (.333) overall during the 2026 season.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Using organization and congestion to perfection in the opening half, the Dukes were able to head into the break in a scoreless game. Duquesne continued to apply the defensive pressure in the second half before WVU was able to break through. A long outlet pass Alexis Ré found Sophia Nickel, who was able to get past a defender before finding the bottom right of the net beyond an outstretched
Ali Hughes at 76:31. It gave West Virginia a 1-0 advantage, and the Mountaineers were able to add their second goal of the contest five minutes later. Anna Hauer fired a free kick that was blocked, but Gianna Koss was there for the rebound and buried a shot at 81:30 to settle the final score.
TAKE YOUR SHOT
Despite being outshot, 13-3, and failing to get off a shot in the first 45 minutes, the Dukes had a pair of opportunities after the break in a scoreless game. Sophomore
Brynn Ramsey, in her second career start, unleashed a shot at 49:57 that Bailey Herfurth was able to turn away. Duquesne also had a pair of opportunities just before West Virginia was able to break the draw, with senior
Jayden Sharpless firing a shot that was wide right before Herfurth was able to save a shot from senior
Reagan Basehore at 74:22.
NOTES
Sharpless and Basehore logged a full 90 minutes for the Dukes, with Sharpless extending her streak to 22 consecutive games playing every minute … WVU leads the all-time series, 13-0-2 … Nickel owns three goals in three games for the Mountaineers, who are 3-0 for the first time since 2017 … Hughes finished with seven saves for the Dukes, tying a career high … Hughes also finished with seven saves against Loyola Chicago (10/16/24) and in a 2-1 triumph at Saint Joseph's (10/19/24) … Sophomore forward
Grace Ferency made her NCAA Division I debut, playing six minutes.
UP NEXT
A three-game road swing complete, Duquesne returns to Rooney Field for a three-game homestand. The Dukes will host Akron for their 2026 home opener Thursday, August 27, at 7:00 p.m. and will also host Kent State (August 30) and Toledo (Sept. 3).
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