Justin Genes knows how to score game-winning goals at Founders Field.

On Wednesday, he… Justin Genes knows how to score game-winning goals at Founders Field.

On Wednesday, he notched his second game-deciding goal in a home game, giving Pitt a 2-1 win over Big East foe Georgetown. His first came against Seton Hall three weeks ago in a similar fashion.

With overtime looming, Genes controlled a loose ball on a cross from Dwayne Grant-Higgins and shot it past Georgetown’s goalkeeper Andrew Keszler.

“I was just in the right spot at the right time,” Genes said.

The goal came at the 87:43 mark and forced the Panthers (4-5-3 overall, 2-3-1 Big East) to play strong defense in the final two minutes to propel themselves to their second Big East win.

Grant-Higgins started the scoring in the first half, when he stole the ball from a Hoya at midfield and started to streak down the right side of the field. His speed allowed the Panthers to have a three-on-two, odd-man rush on goal. Grant-Higgins said he had the chance to pass, but felt it would be best to shoot.

“Basically, I had one of those feelings again,” he explained. “I saw the keeper cheating to one side, so I took the shot on the other.”

Grant-Higgins said “again” because, in the game against Seton Hall, he scored the first Panther goal in similar fashion.

Pitt controlled the first half, out-shooting the Hoyas 7-2. After 10 minutes of volleying back and forth, the Panthers turned on the offense.

Grant-Higgins’ goal came in the game’s 16th minute, and was followed by several other scoring opportunities.

Genes controlled the ball down low and crossed the ball to the left side of the goal box, where freshman Steve Cavalier accepted the pass, but couldn’t get enough on the shot to direct it towards the net. The ball sailed harmlessly to the left of the goal.

With 20 minutes left in the first half, Billy Brush, who was moved to the midfield for this game, settled the ball at the top of the box. Immediately feeling the pressure of the Hoya defense, he fired a shot that soared wide right.

Tyler Bastianelli had another scoring opportunity when he closed in on the goal, intercepted the pass from the goalkeeper, and fired it toward the lower left corner of the net. Keszler made up for his turnover by diving and getting his hand on the ball to poke it out of bounds.

Georgetown (8-7, 4-4) came right out of the half with immediate pressure on the Panther defense. Pitt managed to contain the pressure and keep the ball away from the goal line for the half’s first 11 minutes.

However, Hoya Ricky Schramm beat Panther goalkeeper Justin Lowery with a shot to the lower right corner of the goal. The shot came about after Schramm stood at the top of the box and controlled a lob pass from Kaiser Chowdhry.

Schramm’s goal, at the 54:41 mark, knotted the score at one and gave the Hoyas momentum.

The Hoyas would manage a few more scoring chances in the minutes following the goal, but both teams settled down and played defensive soccer, trying not to give up the game-winner.

Lowery remained strong in net and kept the Panthers in the game. He finished with four saves on the evening.

The win against Georgetown was crucial for Pitt’s run for the Big East tournament, an event the Panthers haven’t been to since 2000

“We needed it big time,” Grant-Higgins said.

Pitt is now entering the home stretch of its Big East schedule, which includes games against St. John’s, West Virginia, Providence and Syracuse.

“We’ve got to win every game,” Genes said, expressing the dire need for Pitt to finish strong if it plans on making the tournament.

“We’re looking at this like we’re in a five-game tournament,” head coach Joe Luxbacher said, including the non-conference game against Cleveland State. “Now we’ve got to put together a streak.”