Pitt women’s soccer finishes historic season with a heartbreaking defeat to No. 1 Florida State

Pitt women’s soccer finished their historic 2023 season with a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of juggernaut Florida State 3-0. The Panthers fell to the unbeaten Seminoles three times this season.

The final score doesn’t tell the story of the game. The game was locked at 0-0 through the first period. Pitt sophomore goalkeeper Ellie Breech kept the Panthers in it with three saves on nine Seminoles’ shots in the first period. But the Panthers couldn’t capitalize on their stellar goalkeeping.

The Panthers had just two shots on goal in the first period, both saved by Seminoles’ senior goalkeeper Cristina Roque. 

Through the first 17:56 of the second period, Breech continued her efforts, saving another Seminole shot. But at the 62:56 mark, the Panthers fouled the Seminoles, leading to a penalty kick that the Seminoles capitalized on to take a 1-0 lead. 

Five minutes later the Panthers fouled the Seminoles once more, leading to a second penalty kick. The Seminoles capitalized again, extending their lead 2-0. A minute later the Seminoles took an insurmountable 3-0.

The Panthers fought throughout the last 22 minutes but they failed to score a goal.

While the ending isn’t what they wanted, the Panthers made history this season by reaching their first-ever Elite Eight.