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Pitt endures weather delay, ‘hard match’ with Columbia in 1-0 win

Pitt 1, Columbia 0

Box Score

 

from University of Pittsburgh men’s soccer report / Matt Keenan 

Pitt men’s soccer team earned a 1-0 a hard-earned victory over Columbia overcoming a weather delay Tuesday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field, .

The win improves Pitt’s record to 5-5-0 [1-3-0 ACC] on the season, with all five losses coming at the hands of ranked opponents. The loss drops the Lions to 4-3-1 [1-0-0 Ivy] on the year.

Following a lightning delay in the second half that lasted close to an hour, sophomore Jose Luis Sena Arbona headed in his first goal of the season off of a corner from senior Javi Perez to give the Panthers the win.

“It was a hard match,” Jay Vidovich, Pitt’s head coach, said.. “We had to work very hard to get our goal that came in at the last part of the game. I’m proud of the effort and proud of getting the result. I think that it challenged us in different ways. One is how to find that first goal against a team that’s very strong and efficient and then how to close out a game, because once again Columbia fought back to the very end and challenged us in different ways.”

The Panthers played an impressive first half, controlling possession throughout the first 45 minutes, and creating good looks on goal. Pitt ended the half with a 5-1 advantage in shots and a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

In the second half of play, senior Tom Moxham opened the action with a great look on goal from the left side of the box in the 49th minute, but an impressive save by Columbia’s keeper kept the match at nil. Less than five minutes later, lightning in the area caused the match to go into a delay that lasted close to an hour. Nonetheless, the Panthers continued with their up-tempo attack out of the break, challenging the Lions’ defense before finally breaking through in the 78thminute when Perez connected with Sena Arbona for the game-winning goal.

Pitt finished the match with advantages in shots (11-6), shots on goal (7-2) and corners (8-3).

Perez, senior Joshua Gaspari and sophomores Alexander Dexter and Edward Kizza each collected two shots on the night, with Perez adding an assist. Moxham, Sena Arbona and freshman Nyk Sessock also recorded one shot apiece, with Sena Arbona collecting his first goal for the Panthers.

In goal, freshman keeper Johan Penaranda earned his second career clean sheet for Pitt while compiling two saves during his 90 minutes of action.

Up next, the Panthers will continue their homestand as they host Clemson Friday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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