Dukes stopped cold by Billikens in 1-0 loss

From Duquesne University Athletic Department report

No. 20 Saint Louis (10-1, 5-0) got a goal from Hannah Larson in the 59th minute to earn a hard-fought win over Duquesne (1-4-1, 1-3-1) on cold Rooney Field on Thursday night.

The Dukes had seven shots on goal to three for the Billikens, but couldn’t find a way to get one by SLU keeper Emily Puricelli who finished with seven saves.

Deena DeBaldo led DU with four shots, including three on goal. Jaimi Araujo had a pair of shots on goal for the Dukes.

The game, which kicked off during a snow squall, ended with the temperature at 28 degrees.

The Dukes and Billikens meet again Sunday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m. on Rooney Field (ESPN+).

The Easter Sunday match will be the final regular season home game for the Dukes who will recognize this year’s senior class prior to kickoff.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Duquesne goalkeeper Megan Virgin, who finished with a pair of saves, tipped a Brionna Halverson shot from outside of the box over he crossbar in the third minute.
• Duquesne’s Deena DeBaldo put a shot right of the goal and Lexy Kendro followed with a shot off the right post in the fifth minute.
• DeBaldo launched a well-placed shot from 30 yards out that glanced off the top of the crossbar in the 12th minute.
• Saint Louis’ Hannah Larson made a run on goal when Virgin came off the line to make an attempt on the ball. The ball got by Virgin, but DU’s Kayla Winicki beat Larson to the ball and was able to clear it off the line in the 40th minute.
• SLU had six shots to four for the Dukes in the first half. Each team had a pair of shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
• DeBaldo crossed it to Hannah Nguyen who slid the ball to Jaimi Araujo on the left side, but SLU’s Puricelli made an outstanding save diving to her right in the 49th minute.
• SLU’s Larson scored the game’s only goal off a pass from Hannah Friedrich in the 59th minute.
• DU pressured the SLU net in the 67th minute with Emma Bundy’s shot to the lower left knocked away by Puricelli.
• Araujo made a run in the 88th minute but had hard shot from straight-on saved by Puricelli.