Men’s Soccer: Navy comeback downs Pitt

Off to its best start since 1986 just a week ago,  the Pitt men’s soccer team’s early…Off to its best start since 1986 just a week ago,  the Pitt men’s soccer team’s early season momentum seems to be evaporating.

After losing its first game of the season 1-0 to conference foe Cincinnati on Saturday, Pitt lost another on Tuesday night to Navy 3-1.

Head coach Joe Luxbacher rued his team’s poor decision making in the defeat.

“We made a bunch of bad decisions tonight and it really cost us. We need to play smarter and make better decisions in our own half,” Luxbacher said.

Pitt (6-2-2) opened up the scoring early off a free kick. Captain John Cordier drove a perfect ball into the box that Alex Harrison  knifed out of the air with his head and sent into the back of net just 10 minutes into the match.

The Panthers couldn’t build off their initial success in the attacking third. They were outshot 21-7, and Navy goalkeeper Gavin Snyder only had to make one save all game.

It didn’t take long for Navy (5-2-1) to tie the score.  In the 22nd minute, junior Alex Wilson received a beautiful pass from teammate Joseph Greenspan and then eluded the Pitt defense to send a shot blistering past diving Pitt goalie Lee Johnston.

But unfortunately for the Panthers, the equalizer was just the beginning for the Midshipmen.

After Saturday’s loss against Cincinnati, Cordier emphasized the importance of securing the backline and playing smart soccer late in halves, and Pitt was yet again unable to finish the half strong.

In the 42nd minute, Navy forward Thomas Shiiba picked off a sloppy Pitt pass and transferred the ball to Geoff Fries. Fries then sent a curling shot over Johnston and into the top part of the net.

“That was our one focus coming out of Saturday’s loss [to Cincinnati]. Today we once again failed to close out the half,” Cordier said.

After the break, Pitt showed a little bit of life, almost scoring off a volley from freshman Nick Wysong. Wysong sent a line drive that Graham Smith was able to deflect on net, where Snyder calmly redirected it.

After that opportunity, Pitt didn’t produce any more chances before Navy would score its third goal of the evening.

After a Pitt surge, its backline got caught out of position, allowing Navy to counterattack.

Shiiba rocketed a shot on net that Johnston parried. But because the defense hadn’t quite transitioned back from the offensive zone, Navy captain Giienti Christian Pitt never threatened again. could streak through the Pitt zone, corral the loose ball and put it in the net for his team’s final goal in the 79th minute.

Their nonconference scedule now complete,  the Panthers have seven games remaining. They next play the No. 5 Georgetown Hoyas on Saturday evening at Ambrose Urbanic Field.