Women’s Soccer: Panthers and Bulls play to scoreless tie after two overtime periods

By Lauren Kirschman

The Pitt women’s soccer team and South Florida played to a scoreless tie in double overtime on… The Pitt women’s soccer team and South Florida played to a scoreless tie in double overtime on Thursday night at Founders Field.

It was the second time in three games the Panthers (5-2-2, 0-0-2 Big East) went into double overtime. On Sept. 18, Pitt and West Virginia ended their game in a 1-1 tie after two extra periods.

Panther goalkeeper Morie Kephart, who was selected as one of College Soccer 360’s Primetime Players of the Week last week, collected eight saves for the game on her way to her fifth shutout this season.

Kephart accumulated a career high nine saves in the game against West Virginia and followed the performance by shutting out St. Bonaventure in a 4-0 Panther victory. She has 45 saves in her nine starts this season. Through eight games, she leads the Big East with a save percentage of .881.

Against South Florida (3-4-2, 0-1-1 Big East), freshman Ashley Cuba led the Panthers with four shots, including two shots on goal. Both of her scoring opportunities came within minutes of each other in the second period, but she was unable to put Pitt on the board.

Pitt’s Liz Carroll attempted three shots, with one shot on goal off a header in the first period.

Four different players tried to win the game for the Panthers in the overtimes. Cuba and Klarissa Ames both had scoring chances in the first overtime, while Katelyn Ruhe and Katheryn Kunugi managed shots in the second overtime.

The Panthers out-shot the Bulls 16-13 for the game, but South Florida managed one more shot on goal to lead the Panthers 8-7.

The Bulls attempted no shots in the second overtime period. Three South Florida players each attempted three shots and two shots on goal. Goalkeeper Mallo-Lofton Malachi collected seven saves.

Pitt is 0-1-2 in overtime games this season, with the loss coming against Penn on Sept. 13.

Pitt plays again on Sept. 27 when they travel to take on Marquette.