Women’s Soccer: Pitt beats Akron, ties Kent State

The last time the Pitt women’s soccer team took on two teams from Ohio, the Panthers picked up… The last time the Pitt women’s soccer team took on two teams from Ohio, the Panthers picked up two straight losses.

This time, they found a little more success.

Pitt defeated Akron at Founders Field by a score of 1-0 on Friday, then tied Kent State 1-1 in a game played at North Allegheny High School on Sunday.

The games were the last two the Panthers will play before beginning the Big East season tomorrow against West Virginia.

Pitt 1, Akron 0

In the 61st minute, Liz Carroll fired a pass from Alexandra Jaffe into the right side of the goal from 20 yards away to score the only goal of the game and give the Panthers a 1-0 victory over Akron.

The goal marked Carroll’s first of the season and ninth of her career, moving her into a tie for eighth on Pitt’s all-time goal scoring list.

Pitt had several opportunities to score in the first half, including a shot attempt by Lyndsay Pierson that went high, but the team was unable to capitalize until Carroll’s goal.

But the Panthers controlled the game throughout.

They out-shot Akron 26-4, including 18-3 in the second half alone. Pitt also finished with a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal.

“We did a good job of being aggressive,” Pitt head coach Sue-Moy Chin said. “I thought we controlled the game pretty well, especially in the second half.”

Chin said the Panthers excelled at getting to the end line and getting services in as well as earning corner kicks, something they talked about before the game.

“We had a goal of earning 10 corner kicks,” Chin said. “We got 11.”

Pitt goalkeeper Morie Kephart had two saves as she notched her record 15th career shutout. Carroll led with six shots, including two shots on goal.

Even with the victory, Chin said she sees room for improvement.

“We are still looking to improve the quality of our services,” she said. “That’s going to be a focus for us.”

Pitt 1, Kent State 1

Pitt held a 1-0 advantage in the contest from the 35th minute until the final minute of the second half, when Kent State knotted the game to produce the final score of 1-1.

The Panthers scored when Carroll passed between Kent State defenders, setting up Ashley Cuba for a shot that went off the right bar and into the goal.

“Our goal was very good,” Chin said. “Liz Carroll had space, attacked on the dribble, and our forwards made very good runs to make space for her. Ashley Cuba did a good job finishing the ball.”

It was the 11th goal of Cuba’s career, which places her sixth on Pitt’s all-time list.

Kephart had several impressive saves down the stretch for the Panthers, including a diving stop with 12 minutes remaining and leaving her feet to prevent a goal with five minutes left.

But Kent State’s Jessacca Gironda slipped one by Kephart into the right side of the goal in the 88th minute off a pass from Kelly Heaton, tying the game and eventually sending it into the overtime.

“It was disappointing that we didn’t close the game out,” Chin said. “We didn’t take care of the ball and do the proper things to get the win. We got panicky toward the end.”

She said goalkeeper Kephart has had an up-and-down season thus far.

“She’s been a little inconsistent. She’s still finding her way,” she said. “She hurt her ankle in North Carolina so she’s been hampered by that a bit. She’s disappointed with her performance this year, but I have confidence that she’ll turn it around.”

Despite out-shooting the Golden Flashes 3-0 in the first overtime, the Panthers were unable to score.

In the second overtime, the roles reversed with Kent State unable to take advantage of out-shooting Pitt 3-0.

The Panthers out-shot Kent State 12-8 overall, but the Golden Flashes had four shots on goal to Pitt’s three.

Cuba and Carroll led the Panthers with three shots and one shot on goal each.

Pitt finished its non-conference schedule with a 3-4-1 record.