Women’s Soccer: Pitt finds first Big East win in Louisville, falls to Cincy

The Pitt women’s soccer team didn’t have much to celebrate early in the Big East… The Pitt women’s soccer team didn’t have much to celebrate early in the Big East season.

With three consecutive conference losses heading into the weekend, senior defender Kat Weiler said the Panthers found themselves with their heads down after games, thinking about missed opportunities.

But this weekend, that all changed.

The Panthers picked up their first Big East win on Friday against Louisville, and even though they couldn’t keep the momentum moving through the weekend to defeat Cincinnati, Weiler said Pitt played well in both match-ups.

The Panthers defeated Louisville 2-0, earning their first points in the Big East standings, but then fell to Cincinnati 2-1 on Sunday.

“It felt awesome,” Weiler said about the team getting its first conference win. “Everyone was so happy. It was nice to be able to be happy and celebrate, especially after a Big East game.”

Pitt 2, Louisville 0

The Panthers took advantage of an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Morie Kephart to hand the Cardinals their third loss of the season.

Louisville out-shot the Panthers 18-13, including 13-6 in the first half, but Kephart kept the Cardinals off the board, and Pitt took advantage of its scoring opportunities.

“A lot of the things we were working on really came together,” said Pitt head coach Sue-Moy Chin. “We did a good job of finishing our chances, and I think that was the difference.”

Liz Carroll gave Pitt the lead in the 34th minute. After Louisville was called for a handball, the Panthers were awarded a penalty kick and Carroll made the shot.

Christina Nicassio added to Pitt’s lead in the 54th minute. Katelyn Ruhe dribbled through midfield and passed to Abby Baldys. Baldys then passed to Nicassio after making a cross from the left side, and Nicassio buried the shot from four yards away.

“It was like something out of a training practice,” Chin said of the play.

Louisville had a good opportunity to score in the 29th minute, when forward Christine Exeter had a breakaway, but Kephart challenged and Katelyn Lippert made the team save to hold the Cardinals scoreless.

Chin said the Panthers did a good job of limiting Exeter, Louisville’s leading goal scorer. Weiler agreed that the defense performed well.

“Louisville was probably the best game the defense has played all season,” Weiler said. “We definitely played as a unit. We were on the same page and that really helped.”

The Pitt defense stepped up in the second half especially, holding the Cardinals to one shot on goal. Pitt finished with seven shots on goal to Louisville’s six.

Kephart made five saves in the game.

“Morie played very well,” Chin said. “She was very solid in the back and made a couple great saves. But the defense did a really good job of limiting their chances to long-range shots and balls that were somewhat predictable for Morie.”

Louisville goalkeeper Taylor Vancil made five saves but allowed two goals.

Carroll led the Panthers with four shots and one goal. Ashley Cuba finished with three shots on goal.

“Our girls played great,” Chin said. “It’s always tough to play on the road. Louisville is a good team, and it was an outstanding win for our girls.”

Cincinnati 2, Pitt 1

Despite out-shooting the Bearcats 21-12, Pitt had trouble making the most out of scoring chances, falling to Cincinnati 2-1.

“The actual play was very good,” Chin said. “We created a ton of opportunities, we just didn’t finish them.”

The Bearcats took the lead 12 minutes into the game, when Jazmine Rhodes took a breakaway pass from Katie Buczek and slipped the ball just past Kephart.

In the second half, the Panthers came out ready to score, out-shooting the Bearcats 12-5.

Cuba netted her fifth goal of the season in the 67th minute, shooting the ball into the low near-post off a pass from Carroll in order to tie the game 1-1.

But the Cincinnati defense held strong against a barrage of Pitt scoring chances after that. Pitt had seven corner kicks in the second half and 11 overall, while the Bearcats had just two.

Julie Morrissey scored the game-winning goal for Cincinnati with less than six minutes remaining in the game. Her shot went off the crossbar and into the goal.

“I thought we played really well over the weekend and dominated both games,” Weiler said. “Obviously Louisville went better because we won, but Cincinnati was just a matter of the little things that we didn’t do.”

Bearcat goalkeeper Ashley Daniels stopped 10 of 11 shots on goal, while Kephart made four saves.

“Credit their goalkeeper,” Chin said. “She made three point-blank saves in the second half to keep us from taking the 2-1 lead.”

Carroll had five shots, including two on goal, and one assist for the Panthers. Cuba finished with three shots, two on goal and one goal.

Morrissey led Cincinnati with five shots, three shots on goal and one goal.

“They finished one more opportunity than we did,” Chin said. “That’s unfortunate, because we played well.”

The Panthers take to the road again this weekend, when they travel to play St. John’s and Syracuse in New York.