Men’s soccer loses third straight, 3-2

In a game that featured five goals and multiple scoring chances, the story, in the end, was… In a game that featured five goals and multiple scoring chances, the story, in the end, was defense.

Villanova Wildcats goalkeeper Craig Bald made critical saves late in the game to help his team defeat the Panthers 3-2.

Bald’s most crucial save came with about nine minutes remaining in the game. The play developed when the ball was kicked forward to Panthers midfielder Tyler Bastianelli. Bastianelli used his head to deflect the ball across the goal box to Bryan Headrick, who kicked the ball right into hands of a diving Bald.

“Their keeper made a great save,” Coach Joe Luxbacher said. “I thought it was in.”

Panthers midfielder Shawn Wildman, who generally plays back near the defensemen, made his way to about five yards in front of Bald and headed a ball just to the right of the net. The near miss would have tied the game for Pitt (2-7 Overall, 1-3 Big East) with less than six minutes left to play.

These two scoring chances sum up how the ball has rolled for the Panthers all season.

The Wildcats (5-4-1 Overall, 1-3 Big East) tallied the only goal in the first half. Forward Chris Blatz kicked the ball from five yards out into a Panthers defender. The ball deflected and rolled right into the net. Panthers goalkeeper Justin Lowery was unable to make the save because he was out of position after reacting to the initial shot.

The goal came at the 28:12 mark with an assist by forward Marcelo Rodriguez.

A few minutes after Blatz’s goal, he slashed between two Panthers and nearly maneuvered the ball into the net by himself, but Lowery came out to steal the ball.

The Panthers came out of halftime firing. Midfielder Jeffrey Tidd shot the ball, which soared just a few feet above the crossbar. Another opportunity came on a corner kick that Bald was unable to handle. The ball bounced around and was finally cleared out by the Wildcats.

The ball wasn’t cleared out for long; midfielder Brian Madden moved the ball across the box. The ball bounced off of midfielder Marco Carrizales and then off of a Wildcats’ defender before midfielder Brendon Smith ran in and kicked the ball past Bald. The unassisted goal was scored at the 49:18 mark.

The Wildcats struck back quickly. Defender David O’Donnell moved to ball to defender Colin Raws, who juked around a Panthers’ defender and shot the ball from five yards out. Lowery was only able to get the tips of his fingers on the ball, and it continued to the back of the net.

Less than two minutes later, the Wildcats scored an insurance goal. Midfielder Scott Rodemer kicked the ball in play on a corner kick, and O’Donnell was standing in the right spot. The ball settled down in front of him, and he shot it past Lowery to put the Wildcats up 3-1.

The Wildcats continued to pour on the offense until midfielder Dan Massimini shot a penalty kick well above the cross bar. After the missed penalty kick, Pitt started to gain momentum. Madden moved the ball down the right side of the field and passed it to the middle where Bastianelli one-timed the ball past Bald.

The goal came at 68:41, cutting the Wildcats’ lead to 3-2. Madden recorded the assist on the play.

The Panthers managed eight shots in the game, seven of them coming in the second half. Bald finished the game with two official saves to record the win for the Wildcats.

The Panthers’ next game is Oct. 1 against Niagara at 4 p.m.