Pitt women’s soccer falls in 4-0 shutout at UCSB

Fresh off its first win of the season, Pitt’s women’s soccer team suffered its worst loss of the season in Santa Barbara, California, Friday night.

The Panthers (1-3-1) gave up the first goal less than a minute into the game and never recovered, dropping a 4-0 shutout against the University of California, Santa Barbara Gauchos (4-0-0).

“This was a disappointing effort from our group tonight,” Pitt head coach Greg Miller said in a press release after the game. “We had too many preventable lapses in the first half that put the game out of reach.”

UCSB midfielder Mallory Hromatko drove the ball deep into Pitt’s right wing before sending a crossing pass into the box for midfielder Chace Schornstein to put into the wide-open net only 46 seconds into the game.

“When you give up a goal [46] seconds into the game, it really takes a great deal away from you when all you’re trying to do is get off to a good start,” Miller said in the release.

Things only got worse for the Panthers after the opening minute.

The Gauchos kept the pressure on Pitt, forcing senior goalkeeper Taylor Francis to make a save in the 10th minute before Hromatko beat her again for her second goal of the game in the 18th minute after a misplayed ball in front of the net.

The Panthers made three substitutions in the 27th minute, but the results on the pitch were more of the same.

In the 29th minute, a crossing pass from UCSB midfielder Dakota Griggs set up forward Amanda Ball in front of the net, who headed the ball past Francis to give the Gauchos a 3-0 lead.

Pitt got off only one shot attempt in the entire first half and faced a three-goal deficit to start the second. Sophomore midfielder Juliana Vazquez attempted the Panthers’ second shot of the game just over two minutes into the second half, but the kick missed high.

Less than five minutes later, Ball drew a foul inside the penalty box, setting up a chance for her to put the game out of reach.

The UCSB forward did just that, sending home a penalty kick late in the 52nd minute to put the Gauchos up 4-0 with her sixth goal of the season.

Francis made a save late in the 63rd minute, allowing Pitt to muster up its first offensive push of the game. First-year forward Cheyenne Hudson’s shot attempt went wide of the goal in the 65th minute.

Less than a minute later, sophomore forward Sarah Krause fired Pitt’s first shot on goal toward UCSB keeper Brittney Rogers, who made a diving stop to her left to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard.

Senior defender Arielle Fernandez put one more shot on goal for Pitt in the 87th minute, but Rogers made the save to preserve the Gauchos’ 4-0 shutout.

The Panthers outshot UCSB 4-2 in the second half, but simply couldn’t get it past the Gauchos’ sophomore goalie, who posted her third consecutive shutout and still has not allowed a goal on the year.

“Our group had a much more resilient and positive second half with signs of promise, but we failed to put pressure on them by not converting any of our chances,” Miller said in the release. “UCSB is a good team and deserves all the credit.”

Pitt continues its road trip Sunday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at University of California, Irvine.