Women’s Soccer: Offensive woes continue for Pitt in scoreless tie

Even with an extra 20 minutes, the Pitt women’s soccer team couldn’t muster a goal. Even…

Nicole D’Agostino (1) helped Pitt get a point despite its offensive struggles.

Huailei Wang, Senior Staff Photographer

Even with an extra 20 minutes, the Pitt women’s soccer team couldn’t muster a goal. Even worse, they were only able to register one shot — and it wasn’t even on net. Lucky for them, South Florida had similar trouble scoring, and the Panthers were able to escape from Tampa with a 0-0 tie.

Head coach Greg Miller lamented his team’s continued attacking struggles.

“We didn’t have any offensive threat today,” Miller said in a press release. “It was just one of those days. Once again, we didn’t do a very good job of maintaining possession. In overtime, we challenged our team to play more forward to try to manufacture a goal, trying to get a set piece or corner kick, and we had some opportunities.”

Senior forward Ashley Cuba credited the defense for buckling down when the team couldn’t generate anything at the other end of the field.

“We just weren’t creating offensive opportunities,” Cuba said. “It was a bad day. But the defense played absolutely awesome. And I have to give big props to Nicole [D’Agostino]; she played a great game.”

Pitt’s (5-5-1) first tie of the season was a lucky outcome. The Bulls (4-3-1) controlled the tempo for most of the double-overtime marathon, blasting 21 shots — six of which were on net — and notching seven corner kicks to the Panther’s zero. The tie leaves Pitt winless after two Big East games (0-1-1), during which it has been outshot 55-7 overall and 19-3 on goal.

Cuba believes these stats are a bit skewed, however, due to her backline’s ability to pressure the opponent to take low percentage and off-target shots.

“The back line does a great job disrupting [opponents’] rhythm and forcing them to take far and bad-angle shots, which is obviously a lot better than allowing through balls and closer shots,” Cuba said. “The far shots also help us offensively, making the transition smoother.”

USF fired eight shots in the first half, 10 in the second and another three in the overtime periods. Lauren Yobbi’s header sailed wide in the first overtime period for Pitt’s only shot of the day. D’Agostino, a sophomore goalie, saved all six shots on net and now has 45 saves on the year, good for fourth in the Big East.

“We found a way to get a point today,” Miller said. “We gutted it out. Our backline and goalkeeper kept us in the game. Credit USF, they played more physical, read the game better and intercepted passes. USF deserved to win the game. We were fortunate to get a tie.”

D’Agostino agreed.

“The defense played well in front of me,” she said. “We didn’t play our best, but I’m glad we got out of there with a tie. Hopefully we can get two [wins] this weekend.”

The Panthers resume Big East play this weekend, when they travel to the midwest to take on Notre Dame on Friday, Sept. 21, and DePaul on Sunday, Sept. 23.