Duquesne women’s soccer defeat Davidson, 2-0, to remain unbeaten at home

From Duquesne University Athletic Department report

Duquesne University women’s soccer team opened a three-game homestand at Rooney Field Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Davidson.

The Dukes stayed perfect at home in improving to 7-2 (.778) overall while evening their Atlantic 10 record at 1-1 (.500).

“I thought our speed of play was good and our possession was good, but we weren’t super dangerous,” interim head coach Dave Gray said.

“When we did get balls in front of the goal (Emily Smith) did a good job gobbling them up. I think in the second half, some changes, a little more aggressive. Took some balls away from her and take her out of it a little bit so she wasn’t able to catch everything we were putting there. We were rewarded for it for with two good goals.”

The Dukes broke through after a scoreless first half early after the break. Junior Brianna Moore took a feed from classmate Maya Matesa in the box and, with her back to the goal, tossed an outlet pass to junior Mackenzie Muir up top.

Muir fired a laser over the outstretched arms of Davidson (4-4-2 | 0-2 Atlantic 10) goalkeeper Emily Smith for the first goal of the contest at 50:24.

The junior class for Duquesne continues to be the focal point of the offense, and that continued Sunday as the Dukes improved to 5-0 at Rooney Field.

Moore, who picked up one of two assists on the goal from Muir, added her own marker at 62:14.

This time it was Muir, who while racing down the near sideline placed a pass to Moore in the box, who corralled it and tapped it with her left foot. The ball went off the left post and into the goal, giving Duquesne a 2-0 edge. At home this season, the Dukes have outscored their opponents, 21-4.

“The mentality going into this game was it just doesn’t matter how pretty we play or how well we play,” Gray said.

“Sometimes we just have to grind things out and find ways to score goals. Richmond did a good job taking that away from us on Thursday. We weren’t able to manufacture one. Today I think the attitude was more of maybe we have to get a little dirty and be able to scratch and claw. We found ways to do that, I thought, in the second half today.”

POST MATCH NOTES

The Dukes are 5-0 at home for the first time since 2009 … Moore’s goal in the second half tied her for the team lead with her eighth of the season with junior forward Margey Brown … Brown owns 20 points thanks to eight goals and four assists, while Moore has tallied 18 points courtesy of eight goals and two helpers … The only pair of teammates in program history to score at least 20 points in the same season came in 2004, when Audra Mathews (27) and Katie Schwager (23) accomplished the feat … Duquesne held a 19-12 advantage in shots, including a 7-4 edge on goal … Senior goalkeeper Maddy Neundorfer finished with four saves and collected her third shutout of the year and 13th of her career … Neundorfer moved into a tie for third all-time at Duquesne for career clean sheets with Michelle Guna (1997-00), Gabby Morrin (2007-10) and Devon Tabata (2011-14).

UP NEXT
Duquesne continues its homestand Thursday, Sept. 26, with a 7:00 p.m. match against Rhode Island before wrapping it up Sunday, Sept. 29, against Dayton.