Men’s Soccer: Pitt bring offensive woes to Clemson

Continued offensive struggles for Pitt men’s soccer led head coach Joe Luxbacher to question the team’s effort following its recent loss to William & Mary. Between the team’s two recent matches, the Panthers recorded just one shot on goal.

“We got outplayed tonight,” Luxbacher said Tuesday. “But it’s because a few of our guys did not show up with their A game tonight.”

The Panthers (0-7-4, 0-5-2 ACC) travel to play the No. 9 Clemson Tigers (8-3-2, 3-2-2 ACC) for an ACC match tonight in hopes of registering a more spirited effort. The match at Riggs Field will serve as the final road game of the season for the Panthers.

Pitt heads to South Carolina looking not only for its first win of the season, but also for the team’s first goal since Kevin Murray scored against Xavier on Oct. 1.

“We’ve tried many different things to score, but it’s just not happening,” Luxbacher said. “The main thing we [constantly] tell the guys is that we do not go forward when we have a chance.”

Because of the competition the Panthers face, Luxbacher’s offensive strategy entails keeping a midfielder back to lessen the likelihood of a counterattack if the Panthers don’t score. As a result, Pitt sends two forwards into the teeth of four or five backs in an attempt to score.

“There are times when we have a chance to take a shot, but we pull it back and start again,” Luxbacher said. “You’ve got to take your chances and take shots in the offensive third, and we’ve got to shoot more.”

Multiple times in ACC play, the Panthers have gone a full 90 minutes without registering a single shot on goal. Notable examples include a 5-0 loss to Virginia and Saturday’s scoreless draw at Syracuse. 

Clemson presents another test for the offensively challenged Panthers, led by the team’s tandem of goalies Andrew Tarbell and Chris Glodack. Of Clemson’s 13 matches, Tarbell has started eight and Glodack five, and the two allow an aggregate average of only 0.73 goals per game. 

While the Panthers search for their first win of the season, they maintain hope for a berth in the ACC tournament. Redshirt junior midfielder Cory Werth, who has only placed four shots on goal this season, identifies the importance of a strong finish to the team’s postseason aspirations.

“We all believe that is still a possibility, and we know that the next three games are very crucial for us,” Werth said. “We know that we need to win at least two, but more likely all three. Going forward, it’s going to depend on other teams some, but we have got to look to ourselves to get three wins.”