Women’s soccer splits another weekend’s matches

For the second week in a row, the Pitt women’s soccer team split its pair of weekend… For the second week in a row, the Pitt women’s soccer team split its pair of weekend matches, stunting momentum in the heart of its Big East schedule.

After losing to West Virginia and beating Ohio last weekend, the Panthers beat Syracuse at home on Friday but lost at St. John’s Sunday.

“We’ll look to regroup and work on some things this week in practice,” Pitt head coach Sue-Moy Chin said.

They’ll have something to work with – the play of Panthers goalkeeper Alison Finch.

Finch continued her strong play in the 2-1 win at home against Syracuse, making six key saves to keep the game in Pitt’s control.

“Alison’s played great all year,” coach Sue-Moy Chin said.

Along with six victories, Finch, has recorded three shutouts for the Panthers, just two away from tying Pitt’s all-time record for shutouts in a season.

After a strong showing against Syracuse, though, Finch and the Panthers (6-4-0, 1-2-0 Big East) couldn’t get anything going Sunday afternoon, dropping their match to St. John’s, 4-1.

Pitt continues Big East action at home this weekend, facing Cincinnati Friday night and Louisville Sunday afternoon.

Pitt 2, Syracuse 1

Pitt stood strong behind a great defensive effort to overcome a second half surge by a talented Syracuse team, snatching a 2-1 victory Friday night at Founders Field.

Jennifer Kritch scored in the 27th minute for the Panthers when sophomore Ashley Habbel streaked down the right side of the field, beat her defender around the corner and delivered a cross that Kritch pounded into the back of the net.

Syracuse couldn’t do much of anything in the first half as the Panthers dominated in all aspects of the game, possessing the ball on offense and applying pesky defensive pressure throughout.

Janean Gardner seemingly put the game away just two minutes into the second half when she headed in a Laura Berbert corner kick, to put Pitt up, 2-0.

But the Orange wouldn’t yield, answering with a corner kick of its own in the 62nd minute, resulting in a Megan Bellingham goal.

Pitt’s offense stumbled somewhat as the half continued, and Syracuse used high pressure and energy to create scoring chances.

With just 10 seconds left, Syracuse was given a golden opportunity to tie up the game and force overtime but couldn’t convert on a corner kick as Finch came up big and pulled the ball in, ending the threat and the game.

After limiting the Syracuse offense to just three total shots in the first half, the Panthers relied heavily on Finch in the second half, who came up with four clutch saves.

Syracuse dropped to 4-4-2 overall and 0-2-0 in the Big East.

Chin was very happy after the game with her team’s effort.

“It was a physical game,” Chin said. “We were able to slow it down and pull it out when we needed to. I feel really good about the win.”

St. John’s 4, Pitt 1

Despite looking strong two days earlier in the win against Syracuse, Pitt couldn’t get anything going on the road as St. John’s jumped to an early lead and didn’t let up, dropping the Panthers in a 4-1 decision – the same margin by which the Pitt men’s team lost to the Red Storm men’s squad last weekend.

“We just came out really slow, and they jumped on us early,” Chin said. Just 22 minutes into the first half, the Red Storm already held a 3-0 lead on goals from Kelly McConnell, Tara Mendoza and Krystle Jalalian.

St. John’s continued to pressure the Panthers offense and attack the defense, taking nine total shots in the first half and blanking the Panthers in that same category.

Pitt came out stronger in the second half, tallying a goal from a Laura Berbert free kick 22 yards out.

It proved to be the only score for Pitt, though, and St. John’s responded with more of the same tough and aggressive offense, scoring once again to put the game out of reach in the 77th minute.

“We played a lot better as the game went on, but we were stuck trying to play catch-up,” Chin said.

St. John’s out-shot Pitt, 13-4, putting eight of those shots on goal and allowing Pitt just two.

With the win, the Red Storm upped their record to 7-1-2 overall and 2-1-0 in the Big East.