Seton Hall offense explodes in domination of Panthers

So far, for the Pitt men’s soccer team this season, it’s been either one thing or the other…. So far, for the Pitt men’s soccer team this season, it’s been either one thing or the other.

Early on, the Panthers’ offense scored goals at what head coach Joe Luxbacher called “a higher pace than any Pitt (2-6-1 overall, 1-4-0 Big East) soccer team in school history,” notching 11 goals in the first four games.

The defense, though, translated the high offensive output to just one win, a tie and two losses as it allowed 13 goals in that same span.

Since beginning Big East play, however, the defense has stepped up its play, only to have the offense fade into nonexistence, scoring just two goals in its first four Big East conference matchups.

That trend continued until Sunday, when the defense imploded and served up seven goals in a 7-1 loss to Seton Hall (6-2-1, 2-2-1).

Seton Hall’s Eliseo Giusfredi led the Pirates’ offense with two goals in their rout of the Panthers. The seven goals are the most the Pirates have scored in a road game since netting 10 against Georgetown on Oct. 28, 1989.

The two teams played to a scoreless tie for the first 18 minutes until John Raus scored the first of Seton Hall’s goals.

Sacha Kljestan’s pass into the box from the left side of the field found Raus, who took the ball and punched it past the Pitt goalkeeper from six yards out.

Eight minutes later, the freshman Giusfredi took the ball and made a move through two Pitt defenders, setting him up for an easy goal and a 2-0 Seton Hall advantage.

Kljestan and Raus connected again for the third goal before Giusfredi would add his second goal just before the half.

Pitt’s Dwayne Grant-Higgins put some life into the Panthers at the beginning of the second half with a goal off a pass from Tom DeCato in the 47th minute, but it wasn’t enough to get his team into the game.

After Pitt’s only goal, the Pirates knocked in three more goals, including two in the final two minutes of the game, for the 7-1 final score.

David Roman paced Seton Hall with two assists, while Grant-Higgins led Pitt with three shots on goal, including the Panthers’ only score.

The Seton Hall offense overpowered the Pitt defense all game long, registering 14 shots on goal, compared to six for Pitt. The Pirates also held a commanding advantage, 10-3, in corner kicks.

Seton Hall goalkeeper Boris Pardo racked up three saves, while Pitt’s Justin Lowery and Andy Jorgensen each played a half in goal for the Panthers. Lowery made six saves, but allowed four goals, while Jorgensen saved one and allowed three.

Pitt looks to rebound in its next match – a home game at Founders Field tomorrow at 7 p.m. against the West Virginia Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers enter the game with a 6-4-1 overall record (2-2-1 in Big East play) and are coming off a 3-3 tie against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. West Virginia, however, has registered two shutout victories in its last three games.

Last season the Panthers fell to the Mountaineers, 2-1, in a double overtime thriller in Morgantown, W.Va.

Editor’s Note: Head coach Joe Luxbacher could not be reached for comment.