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Duquesne Men’s Soccer earns best start in program history

As Duquesne Men’s Soccer goalkeeper Domenic Nascimben prepared for a second penalty kick within a five-minute period, he decided to chirp against Howard as it was indecisive in regard to who would take the shot and all he wanted was a clean sheet.

Already, Nascimben saw one penalty kick where Howard’s Nathan Leggett came straight on, and his cross was met with a top hand, the captain’s first pk save in a Duquesne uniform.

Now, once again in the game’s closing seconds, Duquesne’s shutout was in real peril with Bryson Baker set to toe the ball.

Baker opened up his body, Nascimben got a hand on that shot and the immediate rebound from Sammy Oladeji, three of his career-high 11 saves as Duquesne earned its fourth shutout in five games, securing a 7-0 victory over Howard Saturday afternoon at Rooney Field and moving to a program-best 5-0 in the process.

“There’s nothing I wanted more than to finish with a clean sheet,” Nascimben said. “Having to defend the two pk’s late was definitely disheartening but I had to be strong for my team. It comes down to pride. We’re not a team that should be conceding goals, we’re a lot better than that. It’s also echoed with the back five squad. The fact that the scoreboard said zero is incredible to me. We all worked so damn hard to get this far.”

Duquesne was able to field 22 players over the 90 minutes, a season high.

Meanwhile, Nascimben also was able to match his Tuesday shutout of James Madison, a fact assistant coach Adam Mitchell mentioned as Duquesne departed for the locker room after the final whistle stating Nascimben was “a good person and a better goalkeeper”.

“So many guys are capable of getting minutes,” Duquesne coach Chase Brooks said. “It shows our depth and how hard they’re willing to work for one another. There’s a lot of positive signs. If we want to accomplish our goals we need games like this and the five games total so that we can learn from these situations.”

Duquesne had six players score goals in Ask Ekeland (6′, 13′), Torge Witteborg (21′), Ryan Goodhew (43′), Maxi Hopfer (57′), Cameron Territo (68′) and Jacob Casha (89′).

In addition, Ade Akinjogbin, Ben Bacdayan and Anthony Harding each earned his first assist of the season.

“It’s brilliant,” said Territo. “We don’t have a certain person and expect them to score a specific number of goals. We want everyone to contribute as much as they can. It’s amazing seeing someone new get an assist or goal. It brings us closer together and I know they can feel the energy too.”

Ekeland first scored off a Nate Dragisich throw in where his foot prevailed in a crowd and added a second total seven minutes later, off his set piece.

Witteborg’s goal came off Harding’s corner kick and was his second score of the young season.

Goodhew tallied his goal from long range, converting from 30 yards out after Akinjogbin found him. The sophomore made a heart gesture and blew a kiss towards the crowd following the result, his first goal of the season.

Zach Mowka found a hard charging Hopfer in the 57th minute, for the latter’s first goal of the season, after posting 13 a campaign ago.

Territo’s goal came unassisted in the 68th minute and Bacdayan found Casha in the 89th minute.

As previously stated, Nascimben was tested twice in the closing minutes with penalty kicks and Howard outshot Duquesne 18-11 and 11-8 on goal, which disappointed Brooks, who nonetheless felt the occasional defensive complacency was very correctible.

Prior to the season, Brooks expressed his pleasure with just how competitive practices have been as playing spots and traveling rosters are consistently determined.

Five games into the season, Territo has not spotted any drop off, as Duquesne continues non-conference play Tuesday at Wright State.

“It’s a great group of guys that have their own voice,” he said. “Every day we come to Rooney Field, it’s the whole group of guys putting in hard work. It’s a big ass family.”

GAMEDAY INFO

Duquesne starters (5-0-0)- Domenic Nascimben (GK), Christoffer Vie Angell, Jesper Moksnes, Torge Witteborg, Zach Mowka, Maxi Hopfer, Harper Cook, Anthony Harding, Nate Dragisich, Ask Ekeland, Cameron Territo

Howard starters (0-4-0)- JR Gawel (GK), Rameses Gaines, Jackson Lewis, Jelani Pierre, Asong Nkemanjong, Bryson Baker, Ashri Settles, Roman Stallings, Mason Christian, Nathan Leggett, Peter Gansallo

Yellow cards- Peter Gansallo HOW 27′, Jacob Casha DUQ 43′, Anthony Harding DUQ 51′, Cameron Territo DUQ 74′, Sammy Oladeji HOW 74′

PHOTO GALLERY

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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