Plum grad Kaitlyn Killinger excited for fresh start with Duquesne women's soccer

After two seasons with Pitt’s women’s soccer program, Plum grad Kaitlyn Killinger decided she needed a change of scenery. As it turned out, her scenery didn’t change much. Only the name on her uniform.

Killinger made the short journey down Fifth Avenue to Duquesne, where she will spend her final two seasons. She appeared in only two matches for the Panthers but was grateful to get a taste of life in the ACC, arguably the strongest women’s soccer conference in the country.

“I enjoyed my time at Pitt,” she said. “I learned so much at Pitt.”

She will bring that know-how to a program that is under new leadership. Jess Giegucz was hired in January after 10 seasons and 104 wins (.659 winning percentage) as Slippery Rock’s coach.

She inherited a program that has been solid if unspectacular. In 14 seasons under previous coach Al Alvine, Duquesne was 93-106-30 overall and 46-60-18 in the Atlantic 10.

Giegucz got a good look at her club during spring workouts and said she sees plenty of potential.

“It was a good spring. Definitely challenging,” she said. “There’s some differences in expectations that they adapted to very quickly. … The team, athletically, they’re so talented.

“Some players who maybe didn’t get some opportunities before have taken this as an eyes-wide-open mentality and looking at it like everybody’s got a fresh start.”

That includes Killinger, a forward who played only 26 minutes over her two regular seasons at Pitt. She already was in the process of transferring to Duquesne when the coaching change occurred.

Though she admitted Alvine’s exit gave her pause, she said she has formed a quick bond with Giegucz.

“She did a really good job reaching out to me, and she was very supportive along the way,” Killinger said. “… And I was very appreciative of that.

“Her coaching style is a little bit different than what I’ve been into, but I can already tell I really enjoy it. She’s very outgoing and fun and brings a positive energy to the team.”

Giegucz has been impressed with Killinger as well. She said she saw Killinger’s confidence rise through spring workouts and expects that her two seasons in Pitt’s high-caliber program will be a benefit as she fits in at Duquesne.

Having 12 other women from the WPIAL on the roster — including rising junior keeper Ali Hughes from Burrell — has helped to ease the change. Killinger said she played against several of her new teammates while coming up through the club ranks.

As to what extent Killinger will contribute, Giegucz said it is too early to tell. That goes for all of the players, but Giegucz said Killinger has all the tools necessary to succeed.

“I think she certainly has some very special qualities, and those special qualities are undeniable,” the coach said. “Certainly I think she’s going to have a pretty good ability to make an impact.”

Killinger, meanwhile, is excited for the fresh start. She was part of Pitt’s 2023 team that reached the ACC semifinals and won three matches in the NCAA Tournament, and she hopes to be a part of the same type of success across town.

The Dukes have won only one match in the A-10 Tournament since 2016, and Killinger wants to change that.

“I’m very excited for the fall and being able to compete and play,” she said. “I just want to help the team compete at the highest level possible. … I want to help the team win a conference title.”