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#PGHSoccer College Women's Round Up

Women’s soccer teams in Pittsburgh area are off to an up and down start.
The three local Division I Pittsburgh teams are struggling in non-conference play early in the season — while West Virginia continues to roll early while defending NCAA National Champions Penn State have already lost twice.
Here’s a quick wrap-around of the locals and what lies ahead for each in the coming weeks.

PITT 

Overall Record –  1-4-1
Last week – It wasn’t a good Labor Day weekend for the Panthers, as they dropped pair of decisive losses on a two-game California trip.  Pitt fell to 1-4-1 on the season after losing to UC Santa Barbara (4-0), and UC Irvine (3-0).

“This was a disappointing effort from our group tonight,” said head coach Greg Miller, after the first loss.
“We had too many preventable lapses in the first half that put the game out of reach. When you give up a goal 45 seconds into the game, it really takes a great deal away from you when all you’re trying to do is get off to a good start.

Up Next – Pitt will travel to Lawrence, Kan., for their final non-conference road battle of the season, taking on Kansas at 8 p.m.on Sept. 9.
They’ll return to Ambrose Urbanic field to close out non-conference play on Sept. 11, hosting Kent State at 6 p.m. ACC action will follow on Sept. 19 as Pitt welcomes Louisville

RMU

Overall Record – 0-6
The Past WeekJohn Kowalski‘s squad were one game from making the NCAA tournament a year ago — but this year thus far has been a different story.
The Colonials continue to come up short in seeking its first win of the season as they concluded a 4-game road swing with losses at Penn and Akron on Sunday and Thursday.
The Penn Quakers scored three times in the opening 8:38 to quickly race ahead and defeat the Robert Morris University women’s soccer team, 5-0, Sunday afternoon at Rhodes Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
aakron
The Colonials remained winless on Thursday night — playing through some stormy weather — and losing at Akron 5-2.
Up Next –  RMU will take on Ohio University on Sunday at 1 p.m. in their first home game in the last five matches.

DUQUESNE

Overall Record – 1-2-1

Last Week – The defending Atlantic 10 Champs, Duquesne women’s soccer team fell to Longwood Friday night at home by a final score of 2-1.
Longwood’s Amanda Spencer’s shot in the 12th minute beat Kyra Murphy, putting LWU up 1-0.
Malea Fabean’s would-be game-tying goal in the 14th minute was waved off and ruled offside, holding the Dukes scoreless.
In the 42nd minute, a Longwood header from Emilie Kupsov gave the Lancers a 2-0 advantage going into halftime.
The Dukes were held scoreless until Fabean connected from a pass by Haley Yow in the box, beating Longwood’s keeper Maria Kirby in the 80th minute.
The Dukes had a chance to tie to the game with 30 seconds left, but Abby Losco’s shot went wide of the goal.

“I’m happy with the way we fought until the end, and with the chances that we created, but at the end of the day we have to be better on both sides of the goal if we are going to be successful this season,” Al Alvine, Head Coach.
“Going into Friday’s game against Xavier will be a real challenge, but we have a team that’s more than capable of doing that.”

Up Next – The Dukes will head to Cincinnati to take on Xavier University at 4:30 p.m. Friday, followed by the University of Cincinnati on Sunday at 1 p.m.  Both games will be played at the University of Cincinnati.

 

WVU

Overall Record – 3-0-1, Ranked 4th
Last week – The fourth-ranked Mountaineers earned a pair of wins against Big Ten Conference opponents in Morgantown, defeating Purdue, 2-0, on Sept. 1, and No. 19 Ohio State, 2-1, on Sept. 4.  WVU held the teams to five combined shots, with only the Buckeyes’ goal landing on-frame.
Up Next – The Mountaineers continue to play a rigorous non-conference schedule as they will next take at 5th ranked Duke on Friday, Sept. 9, with first kick from Koskinen Stadium set for 7 p.m.
This will be Duke’s third straight top-10 opponent. At the Duke Nike Classic last weekend, the squad drew No. 8 North Carolina, 0-0, on Sept. 2, and defeated No. 9 Minnesota, 1-0, on Sept. 4.

PENN STATE

Overall Record – 2-2-1, Ranked 16th
The Past Week – It’s been a bumpy, up-and-down start for the defending NCAA National Champions.
After losing to BYU at home, 3-2, as Greensburg Central Catholic standout Frannie Crouse had a goal and an assist, the Nittany Lions split a pair of games on a road trip to Southern California on Labor Day weekend, losing 1-0 at UCLA, then beating Long Beach State 2-1.
Former Upper St. Clair standout Emma Hasco has seen 20 minutes of action this year, in a 3-0 win over Hofstra.
Up Next – Penn State wraps up non-conference play with a pair of home games this coming weekend.  First they host San Diego St. Aztecs (Friday), and then LaSalle (Sunday) — both at Jeffries Field in University Park.

DIVISION II, III and NAIA 

CMU

Overall Record – 1-1
Last Week – After 12-0 trashing of overmatched Franciscan, CMU met a fellow NSCAA Top 10 team on Saturday, September 3, when ninth-ranked Thomas More College visited Pittsburgh.
The Saints upended the sixth-ranked Tartans by a 2-1 score to move to 2-0 on the season while the Tartans are now even at 1-1.  The Tartans will next play at Christopher Newport University on Friday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Up Next – The Tartans will travel to Christopher Newport University – Newport News, VA for back-to-back games against the hosts (Chris. Newport Univ) and Virginia Wesleyan.
POINT PARK
Overall Record – 0-2-1
Last Game – After a tough road trip to Michigan on Saturday, which they lost to the defending NAIA Champs and No. 1-ranked Spring Arbor (Mich.) 4-0, they took on another strong team — University of Maine Fort Kent, who they held scoreless in the second half, but fell short, 3-1, Wednesday.
Point Park senior Erin Gilmartin scored in the 85th minute to cut the lead to 3-1, but it was too little too late for the Pioneers.
Up Next – The Pioneers head to Mount Vernon Nazarene University Sept. 10 for a 2 p.m. non-conference game.
LA ROCHE
Overall Record – 1-1
First Week Results – in a game delayed on the same afternoon as the Liberty Bridge closing, the RedHawks pulled out a 2-1 win over Waynesburg at home in the season opener for both on Friday.
Freshman Amanda Ceravolo (Hampton) scored at 2:22 into the first half. The second Redhawk goal was registered at 11:16 by another freshman —Alessandra Perri (Quaker Valley) off of a feed from junior Vanessa Ceravolo (Hampton). Both players recorded their first goals of their collegiate career.
Up Next – The RedHawks have a busy travel weekend that includes two away non-conference games — playing at St. Vincent (2 p.m. Friday), then Thiel (3 p.m. Saturday).

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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