Duquesne University’s women’s soccer program entered its second season under head coach Jessica Giegucz riding the momentum of a breakthrough inaugural campaign that produced a program‑record 12 victories and set new marks for goals and points. The team captured attention by hosting an Atlantic 10 Championship quarterfinal game, a milestone that underscored its rapid rise.
A Roster Built on Experience and Fresh Faces
Seniors Kaitlyn Killinger and Kayla Leseck return as offensive anchors, with Killinger having scored four goals last season and Leseck leading the returnees with seven assists and ten career points. Defensive stalwarts Reagan Basehore and goalkeeper Ali Hughes also come back, having combined for 70 saves and a goals‑against average of 1.04. The coaching staff announced Anna Bundy and Jayden Sharpless as captains, the former in her second year and the latter making her first captaincy appearance.
The program was selected sixth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, a reflection of the league’s confidence in the team’s return to form. Five starters from the previous season remain, while new recruits vie for spots in a battle that coach Giegucz says will be defined by the squad’s improved organization and a collective belief system that she describes as the foundation of future success.
The season opens on Wednesday with a road test at Western Michigan, followed by two more away games, before the home opener against Akron on August 27, a matchup that will also feature a doubleheader with the men’s team. Early optimism surrounds the Dukes as they look to translate offseason improvements into on‑field results.