Point Park women return to Highmark Stadium, beat WVU Tech, 2-0

From Jordan Smith/Point Park University Athletics report

PITTSBURGH — In its return to Highmark Stadium, the Point Park University women’s soccer team calmly defeated WVU Tech, 2-0, on Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Pioneers (6-2, 6-1 RSC) moved into a tie for first place in the River States Conference with their next opponent, Rio Grande (Ohio) (6-1, 6-1 RSC). 

For the first 25 minutes, the game was scoreless with WVU Tech (3-4-2, 2-4-2 RSC) enjoying most of the possession. But the Pioneers took advantage of a corner kick opportunity later in the half.

Kylee Bobak took the corner, and Nola McGuire received the ball outside the 18-yard box. She got it over to Taylor Goldstrohm on the left side of the box. Goldstrohm fought for and won the ball and hammered it past the hands of goalkeeper Jenna Miller to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute.

In the second half, the Pioneers strung together a lot of great passes and took care of the 1-0 lead. WVU Tech had a big advantage in shots at 26-7 for the day. But most of the shots were not dangerous and taken from 20 or more yards away with the Pioneers keeping the Golden Bears at bay.

Point Park goalkeeper Ella Serlin made all the stops from the long opportunities and kept another clean sheet. She earned her second shutout in three outings with a career-high 16 saves. WVU Tech had a couple of chances from in close as the second half wore on, and Serlin came up big in those cases. 

Eventually, Point Park put the game away in the final 10 minutes. The Pioneers earned another corner kick in the 83rd minute, and it was Bobak who took it again. Bobak found defensive midfielder Athena Beck on the near post, and she headed the ball in with authority. 

Goldstrohm, a junior, now has seven goals in the last seven games. With her assist today, McGuire now has three goals and seven points total. Bobak continued her playmaking dominance. She’s produced an assist in seven straight games and has eight assists and 10 points during that span. Beck, from Dana Point, Calif., has four goals and one assist on the year for nine points.

Point Park increased its win streak to four in a row. The Pioneers’ road game at Oakland City scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed with a makeup date TBA. The next game is a showdown with Rio Grande (Ohio) next Thursday, Oct. 29 at Montour Junction Sports Complex. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m.