Duquesne Women’s Soccer Defeats George Washington 3-0, Breaking School Record 

 

PITTSBURGH -- The past few seasons for Duquesne women’s soccer have not seen as much success as it has had in just seven Atlantic 10 Conference matches this season.  

 

For the first time in school history, Duquesne (6-5-4, 3-0-4, A-10) remains unbeaten through their first seven matches in A-10 play after defeating George Washington (3-9-3, 0-6-1) 3-0 Thursday night at Arthur J. Rooney Field. Entering the game, the Dukes were known for their struggles against the Revolutionaries only winning two of the last ten matchups, but the Dukes left history in the past and moved forward. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maya Matesa attacks George Washington during the first half of the game. Photo taken by Mary Genrich.  

 

Behind a two-goal performance by Maya Matesa, the Dukes were able to handle business handing the Revolutionaries their sixth straight loss by taking advantage of the offensive possession throughout the contest.  

 

In the 23rd minute Duquesne's Matesa scored her first goal in which she collected a loose ball and fired it with her left foot from 25 yards out placing the ball in the lower right corner behind the net of Revolutionaries goalkeeper Ainsley Lumpe. 

 

“I knew how to get it on my foot and just let it rip,” said Matesa. 

 

In the 50th minute, Karley Steinher cleared the ball after the failed George Washington corner kick which led to a breakaway for Margey Brown. Brown beat the last defender near the 50-yard line and was one-on-one with the goalie before she shot the ball that hit the right post and went in. 

 

“It’s not something that we train a lot,” said head coach Al Alvine. “Credit to Margey for recognize the opportunity getting forward there was a lot that she had to do from the time that she got the ball to the time she scored but she showed a lot of composure and at the end of the day it was a good finish." 

 

Matesa scored her second goal of the game from a penalty kick late in the second half during the 79th minute of the game after being fouled inside the 18-yard box.  

 

“She just clipped me,” said Matesa. “I got the call and then I had to compose myself to take that penalty and place it.”

 

With Matesa’s two goals, she is now tied for first team in goals scored (5) with Brianna Moore. Going into the halftime break with the Dukes leading 1-0, the message in the locker room was ‘to stay focused,’ 

 

“At 1-0 it is still a game your only one deflected pass your only one mistake away from it being tied,” Alvine said. “So, the message was happy with the way that we played but not happy with the way that we finished.” 

 

Duquesne controlled the game winning almost all of the 50/50 balls, having possession and out shooting George Washington 30-5. Duquesne’s bench was very loud on the sideline cheering on their teammates during the second half and that motivation helped the players on the field produce. 

 

“Credit to the kids they came out in the second half, and we were really in their attacking half for the majority of the first 15 to 20 minutes got the first goal off the counter from the corner and then the penalty kick from Maya, that kind of sealed it for us,” Alvine said.

 

Duquesne has allowed only two goals in the past seven games. Maddy Neundorfer is tied for the A-10 lead with seven shutouts while also ranking fifth in total saves (62).  

 

“Our defense is locked in we are locked down we have a great backline Maddy Neun our goalkeeper just has been [having] amazing saves every single game,” Matesa said. 

 

“Maddy has been great too our goalkeeper I think is the best in the league when you have somebody like that between the pipes. It makes everything else a little bit easier,” Alvine said.  

 

Early in the first half Brianna Moore drove the ball from 15-yard line, the ball nearly went in but smacked off the middle of the crossbar.  

Going forward, Alvine believes they still have a few things to work on.  

 

“Still a lot of work to do on the finishing side of things because you know we could of had a lot more goals today 5 or 6 but we will take 3 and we will take 3 points,” said Alvine. 

 

Duquesne will end a two-game home stand taking on La Salle on Sunday. Kickoff is set to start at 1:00 P.M. at Rooney Field.