Duquesne women’s soccer program loads up on Pennsylvania talent for 2025

Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University women’s soccer program announced its latest recruiting class Friday, its first under head coach Jessica Giegucz.

A total of six new Dukes join the roster, including two forwards, a pair of midfielders, a defender and a goalkeeper.

“I’m very excited to bring in such a talented class for the 2025 season and beyond,” Giegucz said. “There is both a lot of potential and versatility, which I feel will fit well into our style and system. They’ve already created a bond with the program to help their transition. It’s very special to have this group be my first recruiting class at Duquesne, and I’m proud to have them join such an amazing group of current players that possess an eagerness to welcome them.”

A closer look at each of the new Dukes:

Julia Bursick
5’6″ | Midfield
North Huntingdon, Pa. / Norwin

Notes: Three-time all-section honoree for head coach Ashley DeVito at Norwin … Three-time Big 56 First Team selection … As a senior in 2024 garnered All-Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) accolades … Served as varsity team captain during 2024 season … Played club soccer for Century United … Three-time Girls Academy Talent ID selection while playing for Century United … Member of National Honor Society … Planned major is Early Childhood Education (Pre-K to 4) … Born Dec. 10, 2006 … Daughter of Thomas and Mary Bursick.

Emerson Connelly
5’6″ | Defender
Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area

Notes: A two-time all-section honoree and 2024 All-WPIAL selection for head coach Nick Crivelli at Beaver Area … Helped Beaver Area claim the 2024 Class 2A WPIAL Section 3 championship … Played club soccer for Northern Steel, which earned the US Youth Soccer national championship … Member of two-time Pennsylvania West State Cup Champions … Earned US Olympic Development Program East Regional honors … Also played basketball at Beaver Area … Member of Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society and Youth Ambassadors Program … Planned major is marketing … Born Nov. 25, 2006 … Daughter of Bill and Jamie Connelly … Has two brothers, Will and Beckett, and a sister, Madison … Will played football at the University of Pittsburgh as a kicker and Beckett played basketball at Washington and Jefferson College.

Grace Ferency
5″6 | Forward
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Bethel Park

Notes: Helped Bethel Park earn a win in the playoffs for the first time in over a decade under head coach Rob Heuler … Earned 2024 all-section honors as a senior and second team all-section accolades as a junior in 2023 … Named a 2023 Mid-Atlantic Top 30 talent after earning Mid-America Top 30 talent honors in both 2021 and 2022 … Played club soccer for Century United … Also competed in track & field at Bethel Park, establishing an indoor school record in the 60-meter hurdles … Planned major is business … Born Oct. 3, 2006 … Daughter of Dean and Annette Ferency … Has two sisters, Trinity and Novena, and a brother, Dean, Jr. … Father played football at Clarion University.

Emma Fry
5’9″ | Goalkeeper
Northampton, Pa. / Northampton Area

Notes: Helped Northampton Area claim district championship under head coach Michael Missmer with an overall record of 16-6-1 (.717) … Three-time all-area team selection as well as a three-time EPC All-Star … Served two years as captain … Played club soccer for HEX FC … Planned major is sports information and media … Born July 4, 2007 … Member of National Honor Society and Biology Club … Earned high honors each of her four years of high school and is in top 10 percent of her graduating class … Daughter of Conor and Elissa Fry … Has one brother, Cooper … Father played men’s soccer at East Stroudsburg University and mother played field hockey at Moravian University.

Claire Highland
5’5″ | Midfield/Defender
Gahanna, Ohio / Gahanna Lincoln

Notes: Earned 2024 first team all-district and all-conference honors as a senior at Gahanna Lincoln under head coach Dave Merrick … Helped Gahanna Lincoln win a pair of conference championships … Averaged 3.0 points per game as a senior in 2024, ranking sixth among D1 state leaders … Garnered 2023 all-conference first team and all-district second team accolades … Named 2022 all-conference second team and was part of US Women’s National Team Talent Pool the same year … Played club soccer for Columbus United GA … Also competed for Ohio Premier, playing in the Champions League at Nationals in both 2022 and 2023 … Planned major is business … Born March 25, 2007 … Member of National Honor Society and served as President of Chinese National Honor Society … Has been studying language for 10+ years and is semi-fluent in Mandarin Chinese … Ranks in top five percent of her class academically … Daughter of Matt Highland and Mandy Wilcox … Has a brother, Jack … Father played soccer for the United States Naval Academy.

Brynn Ramsey
5’4″ | Forward
Mars, Pa. / Mars Area

Notes: Helped Mars Area claim WPIAL and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) championships in 2021 under head coach Blair Gerlach … Mars was also state semifinalist each season from 2022 to 2024 … Earned both All-WPIAL and all-section accolades in 2024 while being selected to the 2023 all-section team … Played club for Beadling SC … Also played lacrosse … Member of National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society … Born July 31, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio … Daughter of Edward and Kristine Ramsey … Has two brothers, Jack and Connor … Father wrestled at Cornell University … Brother was a boxer at Penn State University.

“I feel blessed to have such talent as well as a positive group of players heading into the 2025 season,” Giegucz said. “I believe the incoming class will blend right into the culture and help us compete moving forward.”

Duquesne finished with an overall record of 9-7-1 (.559) in 2024 and returns six starters, including three of its top five scorers.