From University of Pittsburgh athletic department report
A goal by Mikayla Schmidt in the 73rd minute tied the game between the University of Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech, as the two teams competed to a 1-1 draw Thursday evening at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Schmidt would take a pass at the top of the box from Bel Van Noorden, sinking the ball into the top right corner of the cage to knot things up at 1-1.
“We were rewarded for the chances that we created,” said head coach Greg Miller. “It was our first goal in four games and to get that back even and get ourselves back in the game was huge for us. Huge momentum for our team.”
Virginia Tech got on the board first in the 47th minute, as a breakaway down the far side of the field by Alani Johnson resulted in a Hokie lead.
“In the first half we were pretty good then we just started to sit back a little and as a result they got free kicks and corners and things like that,” said Miller. “At halftime, we addressed that. We can’t just allow them to run at us and sit back. “
Pitt’s defense was stellar in the contest, tallying 16 saves, 12 by redshirt freshman keeper Katelyn McEachern. The defensive group would break up 11 Virginia Tech corner kicks, stifling the hot Hokie offense.
“Kate [McEachern] was fantastic,” added Miller. “Anybody that played in the back, especially Aideen [O’Donoghue], Seyla Perez, I mean all of them, Cheyenne Hudson, Vildan Kardesler, Ashley [Moreira]. I’m really proud of them. We bent and we never broke. Give credit to our team for being resilient.”
Offensively, Schmidt converted on her lone shot attempt, while Alli Higgs and Ashley Moreira both added a pair of shots, with both of Moreira’s on goal.
With the tie, Pitt moves to 3-4-3 (0-1-1 ACC). The Hokies tallied 23 shots, compared to 10 for Pitt, while the Hokies committed 19 fouls, with Pitt adding 13. Three yellow cards were issued on the night, two to Virginia Tech and one to Pitt’s Aideen O’Donoghue.
UP NEXT
Pitt continues its tough stretch, traveling to No. 4 Duke Sunday before returning to Ambrose Urbanic Field to host No. 11 Virginia on Oct. 1