From Duquesne University Athletic Department and Atlantic 10 reports
Freshman forward Maxi Hopfer (Styria, Austria) has been named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for his performance in DU’s two matches last week, while goalkeeper Megan Virgin (Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan) garnered Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week honors for her performance for the Dukes against St. Bonaventure and No. 22 Saint Louis, conference officials announced on Monday.
Hopfer, the first Duquesne men’s soccer player to be recognized by the conference this season, received a pass from Nate Dragisich just across midfield, sidestepped a defender, and drilled a shot to the left side of the net in the 107th minute to give Duquesne a 1-0 win over St. Louis. The victory was DU’s first over the Billikens in the 13-game series.
The Sytria, Austria native finished the week with 11 shots, including five on goal in DU’s matches with Dayton and SLU. He logged 195 minutes in the two games.
Virgin made eight saves on the week and allowed just one goal in Duquesne’s two matches.
She helped the Dukes secure a shutout 1-0 victory over the Bonnies, stopping three shots in the victory. It was her third career shutout win and first of the 2021 spring season.
On Sunday against nationally-ranked Saint Louis, she posted a solid showing with five saves in net for Duquesne. The Billikens entered the match tied for eighth nationally in shots per game.
Virgin and the Dukes women’s team return to action this Saturday, March 27, in a rematch with Dayton. The matchup with the Flyers is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
Duquesne men (2-2-0, 2-1-0) return to action when it faces St. Bonaventure in the final regular season home match of the abbreviated spring campaign on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. on Rooney Field.