Duquesne University’s women’s soccer team opened its 2026 campaign with a road trip that immediately pitted them against a nationally ranked opponent. The matchup, scheduled for August 22 at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia, marks the first time the Dukes have faced a top‑22 team since a 2‑1 loss to No. 7 Pitt in August 2024.
The early‑season slate has already delivered mixed results. After a 3‑1 defeat to Eastern Michigan in their opener, the Dukes rebounded with a 3‑0 win over Cleveland State, a victory highlighted by goals from Kiley Johnson, Allison Bechtel and Zoe Fries that evened their record at 1‑1.
A Promising Start
Head coach Jessica Giegucz, now in her 13th season, brings a career record of 128‑63‑27 (.649) and a wealth of experience from previous stops at Northland College, Slippery Rock and Duquesne. Under her guidance the program posted a 12‑5‑2 (.654) record last year, including a 7‑3 (.700) mark in Atlantic 10 play, and set single‑season school records for goals (44) and points (113).
Five starters return from the previous campaign, anchoring a squad that features forwards Kaitlyn Killinger and Kayla Leseck. Leseck, the program’s active leading scorer, has accumulated 14 points in 58 career appearances and ranks 11th all‑time in career assists. Killinger, alongside Leseck, contributed to the team’s offensive output, which helped push the Dukes to a +24 goal differential last season.
The upcoming schedule includes a three‑game homestand following the road test in Morgantown. The Dukes will host Akron on August 24 before turning their attention back to conference play. The match against West Virginia concludes a three‑game stretch for the Mountaineers, who have won their last two meetings with Atlantic 10 opponents.