Cleveland State comes from behind for soccer win

Pitt sports teams are finding lately that no lead is safe in the state of Ohio.

The… Pitt sports teams are finding lately that no lead is safe in the state of Ohio.

The Cleveland State men’s soccer team won 3-2 in comeback fashion against Pitt, battling back from a 2-1 deficit with ten minutes left in the game and scoring twice to steal a win away from the Panthers.

Stephen Ademolu led the way for the Vikings of Cleveland State (6-3) by scoring two goals, including the game winner, with less than three minutes left on the clock. For Ademolu, his two goals against Pitt (2-6 overall, 1-2 Big East) placed him on top of all Division I goal scorers, with 10 goals.

Panthers defender Clay Haflich scored early in the game to put Pitt up 1-0. The goal came at 17:50 when Haflich redirected the ball with his head into the net, off of a penalty kick from Brian Madden.

Cleveland State struck back and tied the game when Ademolu scored his first goal of the game. Ademolu took a pass from David Carmichael and streaked in on net. He then got past Panthers’ goalkeeper Justin Lowery in a one-on-one battle and shot the ball in on the open net at 36:29.

The Panthers broke the tie just before the half with a goal from sophomore Keeyan Young. Young kicked a loose ball sitting in the box into the net at 43:01 to put Pitt up 2-1 going into the second half.

The Panthers had a chance in the second half to take a two-goal lead, but missed on a penalty kick.

“Could have sealed [the game],” head coach Joe Luxbacher said after the game.

The Panthers entered the final 10 minutes of the game still holding on to the 2-1 lead, but the Vikings turned on the offense.

Ademolu sent a low kick into the scoring box. The ball bounced around and settled down for Viking midfielder David Stewart, who wasted no time kicking the ball to the back of the net at 80:10.

The Vikings offense did not stop there.

Spencer Lappin took the ball at midfield and worked it all the way down field, maneuvering past two Pitt defenders. Lappin crossed the ball to the middle, getting it to Ademolu, who faked out Lowery and scored the game winner at 87:06.

The Panthers were outplayed offensively in the second half, being out-shot 14-4. Cleveland State’s Ademolu was too much for the Panthers’ defense to handle.

The Panthers’ defense has been in question as of late. Pitt has allowed 49 shots in its last three losses, including the 19 shots allowed to Cleveland State. Pitt has been outscored 9-5 in those three losses.

The loss was made more difficult by the fact the Panthers allowed a late-game lead to slip away.

“When you’re ahead with 10 minutes left, you have to hold onto the lead,” Luxbacher said.

A bright side for the Panthers is that the offense showed some life, scoring two goals in the first half. Young and Haflich each notched their second goal of the season.