Men’s Soccer: Pitt’s nonconference unbeaten streak snapped by Navy

Still off to its best start since 1986 only a week ago, the Pitt men’s soccer team seems to be…

Freshman Nick Wysong (9) and the Panthers lost their second straight game Tuesday night.

Huailei Wang, Senior Staff Photographer

Still off to its best start since 1986 only a week ago, the Pitt men’s soccer team seems to be watching its early season momentum evaporate.

After recording its first loss 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 with a free kick. Captain John Cordier drove into the box a perfect ball that Alex Harrison knifed out of the air, heading it into the back of the net just 10 minutes into the match.

The Panthers couldn’t build on 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 to Cincinnati, Cordier emphasized the importance of securing the backline and playing smart soccer late in the halves, but Pitt was unable to finish the half strongly yet again.

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 promising plays before Navy scored its third goal of the evening.

After a Pitt surge, its backline was 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 Giiehti Christian managed to streak through the Pitt zone, corral the loose ball and put it in the net in the 79th minute for his team’s final goal.

Pitt never threatened again.

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