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Preview: Duquesne vs Robert Morris, 2 p.m.

NCAA Men’s Soccer

Duquesne (0-1-0) vs Robert Morris (0-1-0) 

Sunday, August 29 |  2 p.m.  |  Rooney Field, Pittsburgh, PA

Live Stream: ESPN+ |  Game Stats 

 

Gameday Updates

Look for highlights and game updates from the ‘other’ edition of the men’s soccer City Game here throughout the day.

PSN Coverage of Duquesne and Robert Morris men’s soccer teams this week

Duquesne men’s soccer has ‘unacceptable’ start to season

FINAL: West Virginia 2, Robert Morris 0

‘Ambitious’ Robert Morris Men’s Soccer Team Looks to Begin Turnaround in 2021

Season Preview: Duquesne Men’s Soccer Eager To Showcase Improvements

Preview 

Duquesne are coming off a 7-0 season-opening defeat at No. 3 Pitt on Thursday while Robert Morris were defeated by West Virginia at home, 2-0.

It’s the home opener for the Dukes

This has been a series that has tilted toward the Dukes in recent years.  Overall, Duquesne leads the series 16-6-3, and the Dukes are 3-0-1 vs. RMU in the past four meetings, including a 2-0 win at RMU in the last meeting between the two (Sept. 18, 2019). Nate Dragisich and Kendall Newman are the only two members of the current DU roster who played in that game.

The Colonials last win over Duquesne was back in September of 2015, a 2-1 overtime win at the North Athletic Complex.

In matches played on Rooney Field, DU leads 11-1-0 — DU has won the past 10 meetings at home vs. RMU. The Colonials lone Rooney Field win came on Sept. 22, 1998 by a 4-0 score.  Duquesne head coach Chase Brooks is 4-2-1 vs. Robert Morris at DU.

Duquesne’s Game Notes 

This is the first of eight home games (four non-conference and four Atlantic 10) for Duquesne, which is in its 27th season as a program.

DU is 54-22-11 all-time in non-conference home games, including a 21-7-3 mark under head coach Chase Brooks.

The Dukes are 5-0-2 in their past seven non-conference home matches.

Robert Morris opened its season with a 2-0 home loss to West Virginia on Thursday.

LAST GAME

  • No. 3 Pitt scored three first half goals in a span of just under eight minutes to take control in posting a 7-0 win over Duquesne at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Thursday.
  • Pitt, which was the highest ranked team Duquesne has ever faced, started nine of the 11 who appeared in last spring’s College Cup semifinal.
  • Jaime BorjasRyan GoodhewMaxi Hopfer and Zach Mowka registered shots for DU.
  • The Dukes were outshot 16-4.
  • DU keeper Domenic Nascimben finished with six saves.

AN AMBITIOUS SCHEDULE
Duquesne is facing four teams either ranked (#3 Pitt & #14 Kentucky) or among those also receiving votes (Dayton & UMass) in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25.

QUICK HITS

  • Duquesne is in its ninth season under head coach Chase Brooks. Brooks has led the Dukes to three Atlantic 10 Conference tournament appearances (2013, 2015 & 2016).
  • The Dukes return 10 of 11 starters from the 2021 spring roster including M/F Ade Akinjogbin, M Rodrigo Albayeros, D Jacob Benintendi, M/F Nate Dragisich, F Maxi Hopfer, D/M Ryan Landry, D Kendall Newman, D Eric Zech and GK Domenic Nascimben. In addition, D Jaime Borjas started all four games he played in the spring.
  • A total of 15 players made their Duquesne debut in the spring.
  • DU returns just six players from its 2019 roster.
  • Fifth-year defender/midfielder Ryan Landry leads all returnees in career games played (53) and career starts (47). Kendall Newman (34 games), Eric Zech (27 games) and Nate Dragisich (25 games) are the only other field players who entered the season with more than seven games of experience in a Duquesne uniform.
  • Dragisich, a member of the 2019 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, leads the Dukes with three career goals. Maxi Hopfer, who earned a spot on the 2020 A-10 All-Rookie Team in the spring and Landry are the only other Dukes with multiple goals (two each). Logan Muck and Zech are the only other DU players with a goal.
  • The Dukes have eight transfers in junior M/F Ade Akinjogbin (Wofford), sophomore M Rodrigo Albayeros (Florida Atlantic), sophomore D Jacob Benintendi (Xavier), junior D Jaime Borjas (Graceland U.), sophomore M Harper Cook (American), freshman F Jayden Da (Washington & Jefferson), junior M Logan Muck (Evansville) and sophomore D Torge Witteborg (Ottawa University-Arizona). Cook and Da joined the team this summer, the other six participated in the spring season.
  • Junior Domenic Nascimben played every minute in net in the spring for the Dukes. Nascimben, a native of Sydney, Australia, stopped 34 shots in seven games. His 4.86 saves per game ranked 11th nationally. Nascimben had six saves in the opener at No. 3 Pitt.
  • Duquesne has produced the 14th-most Men’s Soccer Academic All-Americas (11) over the past 20 years.
  • DU has been recognized by the United Soccer Coaches for its outstanding academic performance with a Team Academic Award (minimum 3.0 team GPA) 19 times in the past 22 years. No other Atlantic 10 men’s soccer program has been recognized more than Duquesne since the award was instituted in 1996.
  • Duquesne produced at least one Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team member in seven of the past eight years including current roster members Ryan Landry (2016), Nate Dragisich (2019) and Maxi Hopfer (2020).
  • DU’s 2021 captains are #1 Domenic Nascimben (GK) and #17 Ryan Landry (D/M).

CAREER LEADERS
Goals
Nate Dragisich (3), Maxi Hopfer (2), Ryan Landry (2), Logan Muck (1), Eric Zech (1)
Assists
Nate Dragisich (7), Ryan Landry (6), Ade Akinjogbin (1), Eric Zech (1)
Points
Nate Dragisich (13), Ryan Landry (10), Maxi Hopfer (4), Eric Zech (3)
Games
Ryan Landry (53), Kendall Newman (34), Eric Zech (27), Nate Dragisich (25), Domenic Nascimben (14)
Starts
Ryan Landry (47), Kendall Newman (30), Eric Zech (26), Nate Dragisich (24), Domenic Nascimben (12)

Logan Muck (43/25) played in 36 games with 21 starts at Evansville
Ade Akinjogbin (28/20) played in 20 games with 14 starts at Wofford
Rodrigo Albayeros (14/0) played in seven games at Florida Atlantic
Harper Cook (13) played in 12 games at American

Robert Morris Game Notes 

FAMILIAR FACES

The Colonials return fifteen members from their spring 2021 squad for fall action.

Of those 15, eight saw action in all eight games for the Colonials, including defenders Kelvin Ramirez and Gustaf Moberg as well as midfielder Bryan Akongo who each started every matchup for RMU.

2021 leading goalscorer Miller Masson also makes his return, as do goalkeepers Mike Zolnierczyk and Grant Glorioso. The duo split starting duties a season ago, with each getting the nod in four games.  Zolnierczyk posted two clean sheets during the 2021 spring season.

NEW ADDITIONS 

The Colonials welcome fourteen newcomers to the squad for the 2021 fall campaign as freshmen Friedrich PetrelliGabe NorrisColton SpenceCharlie LawrenceOwen JowettDrew KemperConnor HainLucas HammerleLucas ShearerGal Ben DayanJacob HaskinsNoe Bijou, and Nathaniel David all arrive in Moon Township for their freshman seasons, as does sophomore forward Hugo Kadima, who joins the squad after spending time at Ohio Valley University. Junior keeper Connor Dalton also joins the squad.

RMU’s new crop of talent includes a number of local Western Pa. natives in Hammerle (Connellsville), Norris (Natrona Heights) and Spence (Cheswick) while the remaining group brings an international flair to Moon Township, featuring additions from England, France, Germany, Israel, Norway and Canada.

The Colonials coaching staff also has a few new faces as assistants Dan Yates and Jay O’Donnell join the returning O’Keefe and Matty Evans behind the bench for their first seasons at RMU.

SCOUTING DUQUESNE 

The Colonials own a 6-17-3 overall record against Duquesne in a rivalry that dates back to 1994.

The Colonials last win over Duquesne was back in September of 2015, a 2-1 overtime win at the North Athletic Complex.

A preseason pick to finish 10th in the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Dukes went 2-5 overall last season with wins over St. Bonaventure and Saint Louis University and already faced West Virginia, Detroit Mercy, and Cal U in exhibition play.

They return 10 of 11 starters from last season, lead by sophomore M/F Nate Dragisich and freshman F Maxi Hopfer who earned spots on the 2019 and 2020 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Teams respectively. In all, three of Duquesne’s top four goal scorers from the spring are back.

THEY SAID IT

“We are very excited to kick off our fall campaign. It has been a long time since we were able to play a meaningful fall game, and to have a top flight program like WVU come to Moon makes it that much more special.  We look forward to testing ourselves against tough competition throughout the entire season and Thursday is the beginning of our process.” – head coach Jason O’Keefe

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