Pitt drops two games over weekend

By Jimmy Johnson

Offense continued to be a problem for the Pitt women’s soccer team in its two Big East… Offense continued to be a problem for the Pitt women’s soccer team in its two Big East Conference games against Seton Hall and Rutgers over the weekend.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Panthers have managed only six goals in their last eight games leading up to the weekend. After 180 minutes of regulation play and two extra periods, Pitt had only seven goals.

Seton Hall 2, Pitt 1

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Panthers (4-7-2 Overall, 1-1-1 Big East) let a first-half, 1-0 lead slip away, as two late scores by Seton Hall’ finished the Panthers (4-7-1, 1-2-0) on Friday night.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Seton Hall forward Rita Massot awoke the Pirates’ offense from their near-80-minute slumber when she assisted on the game-tying goal and tallied the game-winning goal.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ With a little over ten minutes left in the game, Pirates’ midfielder Aubrey Ellezy took a pass from Massot and tied the game on a shot from five yards out. The goal came at 79:20.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ With 2:58 left to play in the game, Massot scored an unassisted goal on an open net to put the Pirates up 2-1.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Seton Hall goalkeeper Buffy Wojiciehowski recorded one save on the day. Her supporting cast helped her shut down the Panthers’ offense by stopping 13 of Pitt’s 14 shots.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Panthers’ only goal came at 36:08, when ErinHills scored her third goal on the season. The goal came on a direct kick that flew past Wojiciehowski.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We thought we had the game in control,’ Sue-Moy Chin said.’ ‘[We] got caught applying too much pressure in Seton Hall’s zone, and that was why two goals were scored in the final ten minutes.’

Rutgers 0, Pitt 0

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‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Neither Pitt, nor No. 6 Rutgers, scored a goal through 90 minutes of regulation and two overtimes on Sundayafternoon.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Panthers’ goalkeeper Jamie Pelusi provided enough entertainment to make up for the zeros on the scoreboard. She recorded a season high 14 saves to keep the Scarlet Knights (7-4-4, 1-1-1) off the scoreboard.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pelusi came within one save of her career-best 15 saves, which she recorded against Providence back on Oct. 11, 2002.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘[Pelusi] was very solid for us,’ Chin said. ‘She made excellent saves.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pelusi was not the only Panther busy stopping shots. Rutgers fired a total of 25 shots. Midfielder Aimee Romasco and defenders Jackie Reuter and Carli Brill were were pivotal in’ keeping the ball from going in the net. They blocked several Scarlet Knight shots to sustain what would be Pelusi’s fourth career shutout.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Although the Panthers did not defeat the Scarlet Knights, the tie will give them a point in the Big East playoff race.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Getting a point in the Big East is good,’ Chin said.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Chin was satisfied with the way her team rebounded after Friday’s late game letdown to play solid defense against a very good Rutgers team.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Panthers are back in action on Oct. 15against Robert Morris at 7 p.m.