Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team returned to the road Thursday after a three-game homestand for its first action in a week, drawing with Youngstown State, 1-1, at Farmers National Bank Field in Youngstown, Ohio. The Dukes own an overall record of 3-3-1 (.500) during the 2026 campaign.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Duquesne has made a habit this season out of striking early, and that was no different against the Penguins. Less than five minutes into the contest, the Dukes were on the board courtesy of freshman
Claire Beasley. Sophomore
Brynn Ramsey lifted a cross into the box that sailed to the far side, with senior
Kayla Leseck keeping the ball in play by providing a header that got in front of the goal. Beasley stopped the ball with her left foot, turned and lifted a shot with the same foot over YSU goalkeeper Kendall Sears at 4:31 that put Duquesne in front. In marked the first career NCAA Division I goal for the rookie, is the quickest this season the Dukes have gotten on the scoreboard and also marked the fifth time this year Duquesne has scored within the first 15 minutes of action.
FINDING A RHYTHM
The Dukes almost scored their second goal near the end of the first half, but a laser from sophomore
Julia Bursick, who was making her NCAA Division I debut after missing last season with an injury and not appearing in the first six contests of the year, hit the left post at 42:16. Less than two minutes later, sophomore
Grace Ferency fired a shot that Sears was able to stop, keeping it a 1-0 game heading into halftime as Duquesne owned a 7-6 edge in shots in the opening 45 minutes.
ON THE ATTACK
Failing to accrue shots in double digits in their first six games this year, the Dukes found their attack in the second half against the Penguins, finishing with 18 shots after the break. Sears was up to the task for YSU, however, posting seven of her nine saves in the second 45 minutes. Included among those saves were three in a span of just over two minutes, as Bursick got a shot on net and Ramsey fired a pair of shots that Sears was able to stop. Ramsey, who has five points in her six starts this season, unleashed a career-high six shots against the Penguins. The stand by Sears kept YSU in the contest, and the Penguins were able to grab the equalizer late. Ghita Haouzi was able to knot the game at 87:50, taking a pass from Rylee Sorrell and dribbling down the far side before lifting a shot over senior goalkeeper
Ali Hughes that found the far right corner of the goal.
NOTES
Duquesne logged a season-high 25 shots against YSU, the 11th time in two seasons under head coach
Jessica Giegucz the Dukes have finished with at least 20 shots in a match as well as the ninth occasion accruing at least 25 … Bursick played 39 minutes off the bench in her NCAA Division I debut for Duquesne … Beasley posted four shots against the Penguins, including two on frame … Hughes logged five saves for the Dukes … The assist for Leseck marked her second of 2026 and pushes her career total to 12, which is tied for sixth all-time in program history with Katie Schwager (2001-04) … Seniors
Jayden Sharpless,
Anna Bundy,
Kiley Johnson and
Reagan Basehore each played a full 90 minutes.
UP NEXT
The Dukes return home to Rooney Field to host Ohio at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. It marks Senior Day, as Duquesne will honor 12 student-athletes prior to warmups.
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