Nataley Davis | features editor

Throughout all of Duquesne Athletics, there is an evident push for coaches to recruit players from the Pittsburgh area and dominate in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL).

The women’s soccer team is no different. Over half of the roster (15 of 28, or 53.6%) played high school soccer in the Pittsburgh area.

Several of these former WPIAL players have played massive roles on the squad this season. Arguably the biggest leader on the team, however, is Burrell High School product and senior goalkeeper Ali Hughes.

Hughes didn’t play for the first two years of her career on Duquesne’s women’s soccer team. After continued motivation and dedication to her craft, she has played every single minute of the last two seasons as the starting goalkeeper.

Hughes chalks her success up to an optimistic attitude.

“I just try to stay positive through everything, even if we let in a goal or someone makes a mistake, just to forget about it and move past it and go on, go on and make the next play,” Hughes said. “I think that’s the biggest thing — and just making sure that I’m there for my other teammates when they make a mistake.”

Hughes has continued to leave a big impact on the team and has garnered a number of accolades throughout the early part of this season.

She was recognized as the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week in August, after posting 16 saves in two clean sheets at home.

This was the first award of her senior season, but Hughes first came in hot her junior year, winning the award for the first time in October of last year.

Hughes has now recorded four clean sheets on the season to date while also ranking third in the A10 in save percentage (.877) and second in saves per game (5.82).

When Jessica Giegucz took over as Duquesne’s head coach last year, Hughes said it was easy to stick by the team because she resonated with Giegucz’s communal spirit.

“The big team atmosphere and everything kept me in. And then when Jess came, everyone still stuck together,” Hughes said. “She came in and was right away was like, I want you guys to be like a family … I just really liked that aspect.”

For Hughes, earning the respect and support of her team extends beyond her fellow players. The trust she has developed with her coaches has also helped her grow and gain confidence.

“To be able to lean on them to know that they’re going to support me with whatever happens — I think that means a lot,” she said.

The people who surround Hughes are vital to her performance on the field. She originally chose Duquesne because, as a New Kensington local, she wanted her family to cheer her on in the stands.

“I’m such a big family person, and being able to stay close to my family and being able to have them at all my games was important to me,” she said.

In her time at Burrell High School, Hughes was named Freshman of the Year — winning the section title in an undefeated season in the process — and was a two-time varsity team captain.

Her connection to soccer started much earlier than high school.

Hughes said she began playing when she was around 3 or 4 years old, following her older brother to his practices and games.

“I just kind of liked what was going on, and I wanted to do that,” she remembered. “My dad always tells me that I was jumping into their practices and stuff, so I guess just being around it a lot let me stay with it.”

Hughes was first drawn to the team atmosphere of soccer from a young age. Years later, having a team-first mentality remains the way she approaches her role as goalkeeper at Duquesne.

The Dukes will be on the road several more times this month, traveling to George Mason University, Loyola Chicago University and La Salle University.

Hughes said though being away can affect the team, the hope is to make waves in the A10 Conference.

“Road games are always tough, and then we’re trying to get back to another home playoff game and make it far in the playoffs this year,” Hughes said.

For a goalkeeper who spent her first two collegiate seasons waiting for an opportunity to shine, Hughes has learned not to dwell on the past and to move forward with confidence.

Nataley Davis can be reached at davisn5@duq.edu