Backyard bust, Pitt loses 2-1

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With time dwindling down on the Pitt men’s soccer team, it was a goal… MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — With time dwindling down on the Pitt men’s soccer team, it was a goal post that led to West Virginia’s double-overtime, game-winning goal. The score gave the home team a 2-1 victory Wednesday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Field and also clinched them a Big East tournament berth.

A Mountaineer fired a shot that deflected off the upper-portion of the left goal post. The ball bounced out into the middle of the goal box where West Virginia midfielder Aaron Pitchkolan was in position to tap it in past an out-of-position Pitt goalkeeper.

“There’s not very much our keeper can do,” forward Keeyan Young said after the game.

The goal came at the 106:59 mark, the 16th minute of overtime. It was one of many goals that Pitt has let up in the final minutes of games this season, like against Robert Morris and Marshall.

The Panthers started the game with a goal at the end of the first half and kept the Mountaineers scoreless through 75 minutes of play.

“I thought we were going to win 1-0,” head coach Joe Luxbacher said. “We gave up two goals after restarts.”

The game-tying goal came after a Panther foul awarded West Virginia with a free kick. Midfielder Dan Stratford shot the ball high to the center of the goal box, and his teammate, Andrew Wright, deflected the ball to the upper-left corner of the goal. Panther goalkeeper Justin Lowery jumped high and to his right, but came up short as the ball proceeded past his out-stretched hands.

From that moment on, West Virginia would constantly pressure Pitt’s defense.

That was not the case in the first half, as Pitt controlled the game early on, out-shooting West Virginia 6-5. The early pressure led to Pitt’s first goal scored by Young. Pitt defender Thomas DeCato played the ball in towards Young, who then settled it and sent it flying past Mountaineer goalkeeper Nick Noble.

“I never broke my run,” Young said, describing his goal. He said he saw the opening, and kicked the ball to the left of Noble.

In the second half the Panthers spent most of their time in their own zone trying to keep the ball out of the net.

The Mountaineers started the second half with a scoring chance that required a diving save by Lowery to keep the Panthers up, 1-0.

West Virginia forward Jarrod Smith ran from midfield, maneuvered around Pitt defenders and fired a shot on net toward the lower left corner. Lowery dove and reached out with his right hand to tip the ball out of bounds.

Pitt was out-shot 12-1 in the second half. The Mountaineers also kept Lowery busy throughout the overtime periods, however. Right before the game-winning goal, Smith bicycle-kicked a ball from 10-yards out.

The ball crossed through the box in the air, and Smith began the bicycle-kick motion. He got his foot on the ball, but did not get the power he needed to get it past Lowery.

Lowery finished the game with seven saves while the team finished with eight as Panther Brendon Smith made a play on a shot in the first half that was heading for the back of the net. Lowery was, again, out-of-position and the rebound went right to a Mountaineer. Smith swooped in and deflected the rebound shot over the crossbar.

The Panthers will continue Big East play at home on Sunday against Providence. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Founders Field.