Men’s soccer gears up for start of regular season

The Pitt men’s soccer team kicked off their season with exhibition games against Ohio State… The Pitt men’s soccer team kicked off their season with exhibition games against Ohio State and St. Francis.

Head coach Joe Luxbacher, who is entering his 21st season as the Panthers coach, tried to give everyone on the team a chance to play and get ready for the upcoming season.

Unfortunately, junior forwards Keeyan Young and Dwayne Grant-Higgins, a transfer from West Virginia, could not play during preseason. Both practiced with the team but are waiting for paperwork to be cleared so they can play.

Luxbacher explained how that weakened their offense in both the exhibition games.

Ohio State 2, Pitt 0

The Panthers managed only four shots in their first exhibition game of the season at Ohio State last Tuesday. Buckeye goalkeepers were forced to make only three saves throughout the whole game.

Luxbacher explained that Pitt had several chances to create great scoring opportunities, but just came up short. One chance happened when a Panther went to the net and shot the ball off the Buckeye goalkeeper.

Panther goalkeeper Justin Lowery played the first half of the game and made one save on two shots.

“He looked solid,” Luxbacher said. “[Although], he really wasn’t tested.”

Backup goalkeeper and transfer Andy Jorgensen played the second half for the Panthers and allowed the late goal to Buckeye Kyle Veris to give Ohio State a 2-0 win.

The Buckeyes started the scoring at the 32:28 mark, with a goal from Taylor Korpieski. Korpieski took a midfield pass from Veris and crossed the goal box, sending the ball to the back of the net, behind Lowery, for what would be recorded as the eventual game-winninggoal.

They added a second goal later in the second half, at the 66:59 mark. Veris scored on a deflection after Peter Withers sent a corner kick towards the goal box.

Pitt 1, St. Francis 1

On Saturday, Pitt squared off at home against the St. Francis Red Flash. Sophomore midfielder Brian Madden scored the lone goal for the Panthers. He played the ball into the corner and then beat the goalkeeper, sending the ball to the back of the net.

The Red Flash managed a goal to keep the score knotted at one, and that’s how the exhibition between the two would end.

Pitt again had great chances to score and missing its two big forwards played its part again.

Luxbacher expects the two, Young and Grant-Higgins, to be ready to play on Wednesday, when Pitt opens the regular season at home against Canisius. The game will be at 5 p.m. at Founders Field.