AMHERST — For 29 glorious seconds, the No. 4 UMass women’s soccer team had the wind in its sails against No. 5 Duquesne in an Atlantic 10 quarterfinal contest. 

But less than half a minute after a Lauren Robles goal tied the game 1-1, the Dukes scored a dagger that swung the momentum rapidly back in the visitors’ favor.

Duquesne’s Maya Matesa’s second goal of the contest, scored with 15 minutes remaining in the first half, served as the game-winning tally in a 2-1 victory.

It was the first time all season that the Minutewomen (9-5-4) had lost at home on the friendly confines of Rudd Field. Duquesne’s win sends them to the A10 semifinals, where they will face either No. 3 Dayton or No. 6 Saint Joseph’s.

“I think we had a good game plan today. We just didn't execute as well as we should have, both defensively and offensively. And credit to [Duquesne], they battled. They were a tough opponent the first time we played them and they were even tougher today,” UMass head coach Jason Dowiak said. “Not to take anything away from them. They created their chances and took advantage of it and we didn't.” 

Both of Duquesne’s goals came on far out lob shots that floated just out of the reach of UMass keeper Bella Mendoza. Matesa struck first for the Dukes in the 13th minute, streaking up the right side of the pitch and launching a long cross that ended up drifting into the net to make it 1-0. 

“That was a bit of a lucky cross that drifted onto frame and those are tough, we see them happen a lot actually,” Dowiak said. “But the moment that led to it was something we could have dealt with better.” 

Needing an equalizer, Massachusetts’ Nia Hislop helped create the opportunity for UMass to get on the board. Hislop took a pass from Ella Curry and dished it off to Lauren Robles near the top of the box. Robles took a second to control the ball before sending a shot toward the far corner that beat Duquesne goalie Maddy Neundorfer. 

Less than 30 seconds later, the Minutewomen were right back where they started. Matesa scored her second goal of the game 29 seconds after Robles’ goal, giving Duquesne back a one-goal lead and silencing the UMass bench. It was a similar goal to her first one – a long boot from the outside that went over Mendoza’s head and into the net. 

“That one hurts a little bit because we did know that that player was a threat and that she likes to come inside and shoot on her right foot so that one was tough – it was a well hit ball,” Dowiak said. “Our backs did play very well today and we just didn't punish them with our great possession or great forward opportunities today. We got caught in those couple moments, unfortunately.”

UMass pushed searching for an equalizer, outshooting the Dukes 18-7, with eight of those shots going on goal. But whether the shots were wide or saved by Neundorfer, the Minutewomen’s offense could not find the back of the net a second time. Neundorfer finished the game with seven saves while Mendoza collected four stops in the loss. 

Despite the premature end to the season, Dowiak praised his team, and especially the seniors and graduate students, who he said have helped elevate the program to where it is today. 

“They've put the program in a better place than when they arrived. It's been a lot of work to get where we're at. This group has been committed,” Dowiak said. “This group has fought through highs and lows, individually and as a group. They just wanted it to be special.”

Hannah Bevis can be reached at hbevis@gazettenet.com. Follow her on Twitter @Hannah_Bevis1.