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Historic season ends for Pitt in 5-0 loss at Georgetown

NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament Second Round

FINAL: GEORGETOWN 5, PITT 0

SUMMARY

Pitt men’s soccer team dropped a 5-0 decision to the second-ranked and third-seeded Georgetown Hoyas Sunday afternoon at Shaw Field.

With the loss, the Panthers’ historic season comes to the close as they fall in the Second Round of the NCAA Championship.

Pitt finishes the 2019 season 10-8-2 overall, while the Hoyas improve to 16-1-3 and advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

“It’s hard to look and reflect on the year when your last 90 minutes didn’t reflect our year,” said head coach Jay Vidovich. “There was a lack of competitiveness, work rate and collectiveness. The fact that all of the other great things that the guys accomplished, I would’ve expected us to go out with a really good fight and not a rolling over like we did. I’m when we go back and watch this, there will be a lot to learn from it and we’ll grow from it.”

Georgetown built a 3-0 lead through the first 20 minutes of play. The Hoyas quickly got on the board after a score in the fifth minute and again in the 13th minute. Georgetown tacked on its third goal off a free kick into the box that was deflected in off a Pitt defender.

The Hoyas controlled the attack in the first half, attempting seven shots while the Panthers only attempted two. Pitt’s best look of the opening frame came in the 42nd minute as junior Bryce Washington attempted a header off a Panthers’ corner, but the shot went just right of the post.

Georgetown continued to stretch its lead in the second half, adding a fourth goal in the 66th minute.

Pitt finished the match with just two shots on goal, as the Hoyas attempted 12

UPDATES

FINAL | GEORGETOWN ELIMINATES PITT, 5-0.

Not exactly the best way to end the season for Pitt, with a 5-0 loss at Georgetown on short rest. This is a program on the rise though. A great season, accomplished many program firsts. Looking forward to what lies ahead.

88′ | Pitt’s Arie Ammann, under assault all day, comes up with nice double save, first stopping PK, then the rebound chance.

83′ | GOAL – Georgetown adds another one. Now 5-0.

66′ | GOAL – Georgetown goes up 4-0.

It’s Nealis again.

HALF | 3-0 Georgetown 

15′ | GOAL – Georgetown 

Own goal. Free kick from left side — and goes off Pitt’s Arturo Ordonez. Yikes.

8′ | Another goal for Georgetown. What a finish from Derrick Dotson! With two Pitt defenders closing him down, nice turn-around to his left to find room to bend it into upper right corner. Pitt’s been resilient team this year, but in a 2-0 hole on short rest is not good. 

5′ | GOAL – Georgetown – Dylan Nealis

The Hoyas starts match looking sharp in and around the box — and just like that — a goal! Dylan Nealis with shot that beat Pitt’s Arie Ammann — tucking a low, hard shot inside near post.

GAME DETAIL

Sunday, November 24 | Noon | Shaw Field in Washington, D.C.

LIVE STREAM: YouTube vis Big East Digital Network | LIVE STATS | NCAA Bracket

WATCH

 

STARTING LINE-UPS

 

THEY SAID IT

“It’s a big win. It’s a great victory,” Pitt’s midfielder Jackson Walti said after Thursday’s 2-0 win vs Patriot League champion Lehigh. “With the quality of players we have. And the quality of our play, This one victory is not enough to satisfy us. Hopefully we have a lot more games to go, and it starts Sunday. When we get that ‘W’ then we’ll be really happy.”

PSN’s COVERAGE THIS WEEK

Harding makes most of surprise start for Pitt in NCAA tournament

Pitt continues its climb to new heights with historic NCAA win

Pitt beats Lehigh, 2-0, for first-ever NCAA tournament win

Pitt is in! Panthers earn at-large bid to NCAA tournament, will host Lehigh in 1st Round on Thursday

THE SERIES – GEORGETOWN

·        This is a renewal of former Big East foes — as the Hoyas lead the all-time series, 21-6.

·        This will be the first time since 2012 that they’ll meet. Last time out, in Pittsburgh. Pitt dropped a 3-1 decision.

·         Pitt’s last win against Georgetown came in 2006 at home, 1-0.

·         Head coach Jay Vidovich is facing Georgetown for the first time in his career.

SCOUTING THE HOYAS

·         Georgetown enters Sunday’s contest as the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and is ranked No. 2 in United Soccer Coaches poll.

·         The Hoyas received a first round bye after being crowned the BIG EAST champions for the third consecutive season.

·         Georgetown boasts three BIG EAST Players of the Year in Dylan Nealis (Defensive), Jacob Montes (Midfielder) and Giannis Nikopolidis (Co-Goalkeeper).

·         The Hoyas have suffered just one loss this season that came against another ACC foe, then-ranked No. 17 Louisville Sept. 24 in double overtime.

·         Georgetown’s two ties came against Creighton (11/6), 1-1 (2OT) and Butler (11/13), 2-2 (2OT).

·         The Hoyas are led by head coach Brian Wiese who is in his 14th season at the helm and is making his eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament with Georgetown.

VIDOVICH’S NCAA RESUME

·         Fourth-year head coach Jay Vidovich is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament, winning the 2007 National Championship with Wake Forest after going 22-2-2.

·         Vidovich led the Demon Deacons to four straight College Cup appearances from 2006-09 and made the NCAA Tournament in 13 of this final 14 seasons at Wake Forest.

2019 MEETS 1965

·         Pitt’s at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament is the first since 1965.

·         Pitt hosted East Stroudsburg on Nov. 11, 1965 and fell 2-0 at Pitt Stadium. The Panthers finished that season 7-2-1.

·         Pitt makes its third NCAA Championship appearance in program history (1962, 1965).

KIZZA COMMANDING ATTENTION

·         Junior Edward Kizza leads the Panthers with 28 points on the year after netting 12 goals and recording four assists.

·         The 26 points rank him 22nd in the nation and fifth in the ACC.

·         Kizza ranks 28th in the NCAA and fifth in the ACC with 0.65 goals per game.

·         Kizza has scored in nine of the 19 games this season, including three double-scoring games.

·         Kizza added to his accolade collection, earning All-ACC First Team honors. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

·         Kizza closed out his 2018 campaign tied for third in program history for single-season goals (15) while ranking fifth in points (30).

·         The historic season led Kizza to First Team All-ACC honors, Second Team All-Region recognition and a spot on the All-ACC Academic Team.

 

THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

·         The Championship is a 48-team single elimination tournament.

·         All first-round games will be played Thursday, Nov. 21, on campus sites, while all second-round action will take place Sunday, Nov. 24.

·         The College Cup will be held on Friday, Dec. 13 and conclude Sunday, Dec. 15 at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Coverage will be aired on ESPNU.

 

LOOKING AHEAD

·         In the event of a Pitt win Sunday, the Panthers will advance to the Third Round to face the winner of Louisville at 14th-seeded UC Davis. That game is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m.

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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