Duquesne outdone early at Penn State in 3-1 non-conference loss

In a late-season non-conference opportunity to make a high-profile statement on the road against a Big Ten foe, Duquesne fell behind early to Penn State at Jeffrey Field and never fully recovered, dropping a 3-1 decision on Wednesday night.

The loss snapped a three-match winning streak for the Dukes (9-4-2), who surrendered three first-half goals—the first time Duquesne has allowed three or more goals in a match in over a calendar year. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions capitalized on an explosive opening 45 minutes to capture their first victory since Sept. 4 on Senior Day.

MATCH RECAP

First-Half Blitz & Red Card

Penn State set the tone in the opening minutes, earning a corner kick less than three minutes into the contest. After redshirt senior keeper Sam Coss punched out the initial service, Noah Förster tracked down the loose ball and crossed it back into the box. Etienne Reck, with his back to goal, hit a spectacular bicycle-kick floater over Coss to give PSU a 1-0 lead at 2:46.

The Nittany Lions doubled their advantage in the 36th minute. A miscue in the box as Coss scrambled up from a dive allowed Peter Doran to quickly feed Joe Buckley, who finished into an open net to make it 2-0.

Disaster struck for Duquesne with under five minutes remaining in the half. Following a VAR review, redshirt freshman Steel Bayer was issued a red card and ejected, forcing the Dukes to play the remainder of the match down a man.

Penn State immediately capitalized on the resulting set piece at 43:00.

Former Duquesne player Grant McIntosh stepped up to the ball, driving a free kick over the Dukes’ wall that struck the crossbar, hit the goal line, and bounced into the net to extend the lead to 3-0 heading into halftime.

Dukes Fight Back Short-Handed

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Duquesne responded with an aggressive mindset in the second half, outshooting the Nittany Lions 6-5 over the final 45 minutes.

The Dukes broke through in the 52nd minute. After Reck committed a foul in the box, sophomore Hákon Dagur Matthíasson calmly converted a penalty kick to bring the score to 3-1. The strike marked Matthíasson’s second goal in as many games.

Duquesne generated several more dangerous looks in the box, forcing Penn State backup keeper Justin Ross—making his first start of the season—into four big second-half saves. However, the early three-goal deficit proved too steep to overcome.

KEY NOTES

• A-10 Championship on the Line: Despite the non-conference bump, Duquesne remains in prime position in conference play. Sitting atop the Atlantic 10 standings with 18 points, the Dukes can clinch the 2026 A-10 Regular Season Championship outright with a win on Saturday, or secure at least a share of the title with a draw.

• Streak Extended: Matthíasson’s penalty kick ensured Duquesne extended its goal-scoring streak to seven consecutive matches, dating back to late September.

• Power Conference Slate: Outside of a 1-0 road setback at Saint Louis, Duquesne’s only other losses this season have come against power-conference opposition: Penn State (Big Ten), West Virginia (Big 12), and Pitt (ACC).

• Workhorse: Junior defender Ofek Sasson was the lone Duquesne field player to play the full 90 minutes.

John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).