Women’s soccer: Panthers start season 4-0-0 after beating Xavier

The Pitt women’s soccer team extended its season-opening winning streak to four games with a… The Pitt women’s soccer team extended its season-opening winning streak to four games with a 3-0 victory over Xavier on Sunday.

The Panthers have started the season with four victories only twice in school history, with the first time in 2006. That year, they eventually fell to 6-10-1 overall and 2-7-1 in the Big East.

Both teams struggled to start the game, but Pitt found its stride in the second half, while the Musketeers (0-4-0) continued to struggle. The Panthers (4-0-0) scored all three of their goals in the second period.

“We started out pretty slow in the first half, but we started out the second half better and were able to get those three goals, so that was good for us,” Pitt coach Sue-Moy Chin said.

Pitt freshman Ashley Cuba scored the first goal off a corner kick in the 50th minute off assists from Rebecca Fraser and Maura Caslin. The goal marked Cuba’s team-leading fourth of the season.

Klarissa Ames added another goal for the Panthers in the 67th minute. Sophomore Maura Romano and junior Liz Carroll both picked up an assist on the score.

Two minutes later, Ames returned the favor, teaming up with Carroll to assist Romano in scoring the final goal of the game. The goal was Romano’s first of her Pitt career.

It was a well-rounded game for the Panthers.

“I thought our forwards and wings played well over all,” Chin said. “Everyone plays well and everyone works hard. That really shows.”

The Panthers led Xavier 5-1 in shots entering halftime and the margin in the second half. They ended the game with a 12-3 shot margin over the Musketeers.

Pitt finished the game with nine shots on goal, including three from senior Ashley Habbel, who needs one goal to break the school’s career-scoring record. Habbel tied the scoring record with a goal in Pitt’s victory over Kent State.

Xavier’s Carly Wenzel and Brittany Green produced the two shots on goal for the Musketeers.

Pitt goalkeeper Morie Kephart shut out the opposition for the third time this season, registering two saves on the game.

With an undefeated record, the Panthers said they are happy where they stand.

“We are off to a great start. We have a great, strong mentality right now,” Chin said. “We are approaching each game playing to win. That is important, and it’s going to carry on throughout the rest of the season as we approach Big East play.”

Chin said her team has grown during its fast start this season and that she continues to see progress carry over from practice to the games.

“We are definitely seeing improvements,” Chin said. “Our understanding on how to win games is getting better. We are winning some games on the road, which is important for us. We work on things during the week, and then, we see the improvements in the games.”

The Panthers play again on Sept. 11 when they take on Drexel in Philadelphia. Two games remain until Big East play starts against West Virginia on Sept. 18.