Late PK equalizer earns Duquesne a hard-fought, 1-1 draw at Notre Dame

Photo courtesy Notre Dame men's soccer

FINAL: Duquesne 1, Notre Dame 1

Box Score

Duquesne men’s soccer team took some of the best punches from Notre Dame, but stood toe-to-toe with the Fighting Irish on their home turf, finding a late equalizer on a penalty kick conversion from Dakota Jonke to earn a 1-1 draw at South Bend on Tuesday night.

With this result, the Dukes (4-0-1) remain unbeaten, despite being outshot by a margin of 21-3 on the evening.  Duquesne’s keeper Zoltan Nagy finished with seven saves.

“This team has a lot of belief. We’ve been through battles, and we have a mentality that we bend but don’t break,” Chase Brooks, Duquesne’s Head Coach told Pittsburgh Soccer Now after the match.

“We’ve been able to capitalize on our one or two opportunities in big games thus far this season. Anytime you go on road, and can take a point vs a top team in country, we’ll take the result. As a coach, that’s all can ask for.”

How It Happened

The Irish were on the front foot for most of the first half, dominating possession and the run of play over the opening 45 minutes of play. However, neither side was able to find the breakthrough goal in the first half, as it was scoreless at the intermission.

Matthew Roou forced a diving save from the Dukes’ senior goalkeeper Zoltan Nagy in the 32nd minute and then had the ball in the back of the net right before the half but it was judged to have gone off an arm by VAR to keep the match at 0-0.

The Irish kept the pressure on the Duquesne backline coming out of the break. Roou nearly scored the opener in the 57th minute but his headed effort off a corner from KK Baffour was tipped over the bar by the goalkeeper.

Eight minutes later the attacking onslaught paid off. Spicer and Boneau played a 1-2 on the edge of the area which resulted in Spicer burying his effort inside the far post to break the deadlock and put the Irish in front at 1-0 in the 65th minute.

Notre Dame nearly doubled its lead in the 77th minute. Baffour found space on the right side of the area and fired an effort on frame but the Duquesne goalie made a leaping save to keep it a one-goal advantage.

Different Sauce from Spicer.

Watch on ACCNX#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/5EWvULMe50

— Notre Dame Men's Soccer (@NDMenSoccer) September 11, 2024

Through the first 80-plus minutes, Duquesne mustered just two shots, both courtesy of redshirt sophomore Jaxon Ervin. 

“We knew we’d be defending, anytime go to power five school, we have to be prepared to weather storm,” Brooks added.

“I think that’s where we weren’t quite as good tonight, as we hoped to have more possession and chances. As soon as they scored we start to connect passes.”

The Dukes made their opportunity to equalize count in the 85th minute, when Maxi Hopfer took possession, advancing into the box, drawing a foul on Sam McDowd, to earn a penalty kick opportunity.

It was Dakota Jonke who scored from the spot to level the match a 1-1.

“We knew we had to press them more, Brooks added.

“As a staff, we were hoping we could get to last 10 minutes. Then, try to release guys more. Get on front foot a little more. And, Max Hopfer, what can you say about him. Tremendous player for our team. He takes possession, then wins the penalty.”

Nagy was again crucial for Duquesne, despite allowing his first goal in over 250 minutes matched a season-high in saves for the second consecutive game with seven. The two-time reigning Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week, Nagy has faced 36 shots over the last two matches, including 15 on goal, and has kept the Dukes unbeaten through five contests for the second time in the last three years.

In their last match on the road against another team from a Power Five Conference, the Dukes defeated Xavier, when Ervin scored in the last 10 minutes of the match.

After the match, Notre Dame Head Coach Chad Riley wasn’t pleased that his team settled for a draw, but praised the Dukes’ effort.

“Disappointed with the draw but credit Duquesne, they were committed, defended really well and were organized. Then they seized on a moment at the end to earn the tie,” Riley stated.

“I think there are a lot of things to be happy with about our performance. On another night we put a few more goals in.”

Early in this season, the Dukes are starting to developing a knack for coming up with big goals even being under a lot of pressure for much of the match against quality opponents.

“In our recruiting process we identify character. People with good head on shoulder,” Brooks shared.

“When adversity hits, they’re going to respond in a positive way.”

Hard fought point earned at Notre Dame.

Late equalizer by Jonke in the 85th minute keeps the Dukes undefeated 🫡 pic.twitter.com/d2xKb3ljR1

— Duquesne Men's Soccer (@DuqMSoccer) September 11, 2024