Duquesne W Soccer Cannot Hold Lead Against Dayton

The Duquesne Women’s Soccer Team fell 3-1 Thursday night to Dayton on Rooney Field in an Atlantic 10 contest which saw the Flyers score three unanswered goals.

“The speed of play was extremely high today, the intensity was high and I thought we matched that really well,” Duquesne Head Coach Jess Giegucz remarked after the game. “The positive for me is I get to remind the team that we matched physically and pace wise a very good team. Now they can’t let their level drop for the next one.”

Here are some takeaways from Thursday’s setback.

THREE TAKEAWAYS

1. When Duquesne comes out to the field prior to the game, it does so to The Greatest Show from The Greatest Showman but perhaps Rachel Platten’s Fight Song might have been more apropos.

Within the first few minutes, Dayton had already found a top crossbar and Ali Hughes had been further tested multiple times, to keep the game scoreless, one such effort earning a high five from one of her teammates.

Duquesne found a pocket in the run of play heading into the 13th minute with a sequence developing in the box. Anna Bundy’s header was won by Kaitlyn Killinger and her pass found Kayla Leseck. Leseck, who had been hunting for her first goal on the season after several close calls, was able to find the upper right corner of frame.

“So excited for her, she’s always deserving of being in the position of putting that ball in the back of the net,” beamed Giegucz. “Now that she has, I get to continue to put a little more pressure on her.”

2. Duquesne went into halftime tied 1-1 as Dayton found an equalizer six minutes later. In the locker room, Giegucz reminded her team that the pressure it was putting on was good, as were the chances being created.

Dayton had fired 20 shots in the first half, seven of which were on frame, so it was a reminder to the team, which ultimately increased its own in that area of the field.

It was a message well received by Duquesne as Killinger found a crossbar and Bundy had a shot which slid just wide of the goal. While the effort fell short on the scoreboard, it led Giegucz to believe the Dukes got in better places in comparison to recent games.

3. Five games remain in the regular season and Duquesne is tied with eight points with Dayton and Saint Joseph’s. Duquesne’s setback on Thursday has allowed the Flyers to jump ahead of the trio with the Dukes on the bottom of that, placing them seventh. As a reminder, eight teams make the A10 Championship.

Duquesne will have to make up ground on the road against a George Mason side currently projected eighth on Sunday and then a week later at Loyola Chicago, which is fourth.

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Zac Weiss