Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women's soccer team concluded a three-game homestand at Rooney Field Thursday, dropping a 1-0 decision to Toledo. The Dukes dipped to 3-3 (.500) overall during the 2026 season in wrapping three consecutive games against teams from the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Scoreless through 70 minutes of action, the Rockets had a golden opportunity at 70:09 when Toledo was awarded a penalty kick after a handball in the box from a corner kick. Mikaela Perkins got the call for the Rockets, but her shot from the spot was denied by senior goalkeeper
Ali Hughes, keeping the contest at 0-0. Just over three minutes later, Perkins made good on a second opportunity. Atley Pittman's corner kick from the far side found Perkins, who provided a header that got over a leaping
Kayla Leseck and bounced over the goal line and into the net at 73:36. It proved to be the only score of the contest.
QUOTABLE
"We just have to get better in possession," head coach
Jessica Giegucz. "Kudos to Toledo. They came in with a great game plan and played very well. Possession and organization go hand-in-hand. When we give away possession and have to try and reorganize, when you do that constantly it's tough to get on the attack. We're just constantly trying to reorganize. We'll learn from our patterns by watching film and see if we can get better for Youngstown State."
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL
Despite allowing her first goal of the year at home, Hughes continued her impressive start to the 2026 campaign against Toledo. She finished with five saves Thursday, including a pair on shots that kept the game scoreless. Despite being outshot, 17-8, in the contest, the Dukes weren't without their chances. In the first half, freshman
Molly Kinsella almost collected her first NCAA Division I strike, firing a shot that got past Toledo goalkeeper Paige Dornheggen. However, defender Abby-Lee Sanogo was in the perfect spot on the goal line, blocking the shot and keeping the game scoreless. Kinsella finished with three shots in the game for Duquesne, including a pair on target. The Dukes almost had the lead, as well, just prior to the goal from Perkins, but Dornheggen stopped a shot from Leseck at 71:34.
NOTES
Seniors
Jayden Sharpless and
Kiley Johnson each played a full 90 minutes for the Dukes as 19 different players saw action Thursday … Off the bench, sophomore
Grace Ferency logged 48 minutes and posted a pair of shots … The meeting between Toledo and Duquesne Thursday was the first between the two programs … Perkins finished with four shots for the Rockets … Freshman
Carolyn Arcoleo played 66 minutes on defense for the Dukes Thursday, a game after posting a career-high 76 in a 1-0 win over Kent State (8/30) … Duquesne slipped to 5-4 (.556) in two seasons under Giegucz in one-goal contests, including 2-2 (.500) in games in which just one goal was scored.
UP NEXT
Duquesne returns to action Thursday, Sept. 10, with a 6:00 p.m. match at Youngstown State.
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