Achieving a New Goal: Women’s Soccer Team Earns A-10 Champion Title

A promising start to the women’s soccer team season ended in a historic title run for the Dukes.

On Nov. 8, for the first time in Duquesne history, the women’s soccer team captured the A-10 title.

“We could not be prouder of our women’s soccer team,” said Dave Harper, director of athletics. “The program has exhibited the perfect combination of competitive and championship behaviors that put them in a place to grab a historic Atlantic 10 Championship and well-earned berth in the NCAA Tournament. As we strive for competitive excellence, this team has taken the first step of many we hope to take in the seasons ahead. They personify what it takes and they are not done competing.”

The team got off to its best start in program history, winning four of the first five matches, including the championship at the Steel City Classic. After two A-10 Conference match loses, the Dukes won five of their next eight matches, qualifying for the championship.

Coming into the championship, the Dukes, No. 7 seed, started quarterfinal round play against, No. 2 seed University of Dayton, the defending champs. Duquesne pulled off one of its most shocking upsets in program history after winning the match in a shootout.

Advancing to the semifinal round, Duquesne pulled a second straight upset by defeating the defending regular season champion La Salle, 2-1. This marked the Dukes’ first A-10 Championship victory.

In the tournament final, the Dukes and Fordham University were scoreless for the first 76 minutes of play. Freshman Abby Losco netted the game-winner, with an insurance goal scored by Linnea Faccenda less than 10 minutes later.

Vanessa Perdomo, who was named the championship’s Most Outstanding Player, also was named to the All-Championship team. Perdomo, whose 14 saves against Dayton set an A-10 Championship single-match record, finished the tournament with 29 saves, also an A-10 Championship record.

With this win, Duquesne represents the A-10 Conference as league champions at the 2015 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. They are pitted in the first round against West Virginia on Friday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on WVU’s campus.  The match also will be streamed.