Men’s soccer (2-6-0, 0-1-0 Atlantic 10) opened A-10 conference play with a 0-1 loss against Duquesne (5-1-1, 1-0-0 A-10) at home Saturday, tallying their sixth loss of the season, but the team says morale remains high.
The loss also marks the start of a two-game losing streak after losing 1-4 to Iona on Tuesday. After five new roster additions, the team has faced its ups and downs in the preconference and is currently ranked 13th in the A-10.
The team ranks last in the conference in average goals scored against them at 2.63 goals per game, letting up 21 goals this season compared to their six scored goals.
Head Coach Craig Jones said the team “let ourselves down” defensively. He said he has tested different starting player lineups this season following three starting defenders’ inability to play: graduate student Lucas Matuszewski, senior Jared DeMott and sophomore John Matlock, which he said has contributed to their losses thus far.
Matuszewski started in seven games and had three shots, recording one shot on goal against Howard last season. DeMott played 10 games and started in three, starting in the game against Saint Louis where he was on the field for 85 minutes, his highest minutes played. Matlock had nine appearances as a freshman last year, six of which he started, and played a full 90 minutes against Delaware.
“I think some of the losses have been on us trying to experiment with some different options at the back,” Jones said. “We lost three starters to our back line who haven’t played yet this year so shuffling some guys around, playing some different systems.”
Five minutes into the game Dukes’ senior forward, Maxi Hopfer, scored the team’s only goal, which was enough to secure the Dukes’ win, despite the Revolutionaries attempting more shots than the Dukes. The Revs attempted 13 shots, four on target, and the Dukes had 10 shots, three of which were on goal.
The Dukes ended their 2023 season ranked fifth in the conference.
Jones said he and his team are not looking back to the preconference record of 2-5 going into the A-10 games. During the 2023 season, the Revs concluded their season 4-9-4 overall and 2-5-1 in conference play, ultimately earning 13th out of 14 teams in the A-10.
“I’ve been here a long time and gone 2-7, going in and winning the conference,” Jones said. “I’ve gone 7-2, going in and not finishing the top six, so that’s the conference.”
Jones added that over time, the team will be able to physically and mentally develop stronger game plans which will help them to grow as a team and individually.
“Mentality has to be a little better, stronger defensively because it creates chances and we have to give ourselves a platform to build off,” Jones said.
He said the upperclassmen and coaches kept everyone positive despite the loss, ensuring that the team kept looking forward to the next game.
“I just believe in the process,” Jones said. “Some of the stuff we already have in place. We were so closely connected on that mentality, and consistency is going to help us to win games and culture.”
Freshman forward Louis Crofts said the loss against Iona taught the team a lot about their defensive growth and staying disciplined. The Revs were unable to fight off the Gaels, who netted four shots against the Revs. Crofts said the team has worked on getting stronger to “keep a clean sheet” and looks to create chances to score.
“I think the mentality has been good,” Crofts said. “Obviously, it’s hard to keep coming back after these games, but the spirit on the team’s pretty good, everyone’s keeping a high morale.”
The Revolutionaries have secured two wins, 2-1 to Saint Peter’s on Aug. 25 and 1-0 to Navy on Sept. 10.
Graduate student midfielder Roee Tenne led the Revs with four shots and one shot on goal. The Dukes’ goalkeeper, senior Zoltan Nagy, saved all three attempted shots on goal by the Revs.
The Revolutionaries will head across the District and play against rival Howard on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
