
It was a tough night at Ambrose Urbanic Field Saturday as the Pitt Panthers fell to a talented and well-organized Virginia Tech team, 2-1 in ACC play. The #19 ranked Hokies used an effective line-cutting midfield defense to strip the ball away from Pitt in their efforts to build out of the back. That tactic helped in producing Tech’s first goal of the game at the 15 minute mark.
Pitt would earn a PK in the second half, and defender Ashton Gordon would successfully convert it to level the score at 1-1. But several minutes later, a lapse in defense on a Virginia Tech throw-in would turn into a second goal for the Hokies with less than eight minutes to go in the match, and Tech would hold on to beat the Panthers 2-1.
The loss drops Pitt’s Women to 8-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC, with the defeat against Virginia Tech joining losses to #1 ranked Florida State and Clemson. The Panther’s lone ACC win is a 2-0 victory against Miami.
Gordon, a transfer from the University of Arkansas, scored her first career NCAA goal in the defeat.
Pitt striker Amanda West did not play in the match. It was her seventh game out of the lineup in a row since sustaining an injury against Saint Francis on September 2nd.
At times in the first half, Pitt looked unsure and unfocused, as the Hokies took up positions just outside the final third and pounced on the ball carriers as they attempted to advance upfield. V Tech were also efficient in counter-pressing the Panthers – stealing back the ball in dangerous spots right after Pitt would win possession. There were more than a few errant passes and poorly secured dribbles, although mostly Tech were contained.
Pitt played better in the second half – advancing the ball down the wings with excellent passes from fullback Athalie Palomo up to Anna Bout on the left or from Hailey Davidson up to Emily Harrigan or Leah Pais on the right. But the final pass eluded them, and Virginia Tech’s stalwart defending from the Hokie’s back four denied the Panthers time and time again.
Randy Waldrum’s team has six matches to impress the NCAA selection committee for a post-season bid. Their upcoming games, against #5 North Carolina at home and #4 Duke away in Durham, will be difficult tests, but an upset in either match would be an impressive demonstration of the team’s capabilities. With the ACC tournament accepting just six teams this year, it would seem unlikely that the currently-tenth place Panthers could engineer enough of a turnabout to get into that competition. But you never know.
FINAL: Pitt 1, Virginia Tech 2
GOALS:
15′ – Virginia Tech Goal, Emily Gray. Assisted by Nicole Kozlova.
64′ – Pitt Goal, Ashton Gordon (PK).
83′ – Virginia Tech Goal, Emily Gray. Assisted by Tori Powell.
Play-by-Play Recap
FT Pitt 1, Virginia Tech 2.
Well that was a massive bummer.
Regroup and rebound. Another game on Thursday.#H2P #PittWSoc
— Possibly ‘Rapids Rabbit’ (@soccer_rabbi) October 3, 2021
83’ VTech Goal. On a throw in, VTech plays in a ball to their striker Tori Power , who takes a beautiful half turn into the midfield . She passes perfectly btw the CBs to Emily Gray for an easy finish.
2-1, Hokies. Stands pretty quiet at Ambrose Urbanic.
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 3, 2021
80’ Terrible cb giveaway by VTech for Emily Harrigan – she’s 1v1 on the GK, but puts it high.#H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 3, 2021
77’ Pitt drives down the right side and sends in a ground cross to Leah Pais but she can’t finish on target.#H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 3, 2021
73’ Pitt has been sharper, more focused this half. Better passing, better control, more chances.
Feels like there’s something coming…#H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 3, 2021
63’ Pitt goal! Ashton Gordon on a PK. I don’t remember seeing many CB PK goals in my day.
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 3, 2021
55’ A better first 10 min for Pitt – good forced turnovers and a few hopeful crosses to start the half.#H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 3, 2021
HT Pitt 0 Virginia Tech 1.
Final 10 min was a lot of unsecured dribbles, rough first touches, and poor tackling. Team looks a little rattled.
Hopefully Randy Waldrum will make the adjustments. This feels like a winnable game, if a few women step up.#H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
39’ VTech continues to sit at the edge of the final third, cutting off that pass from the fullbacks up to midfield or the wide forwards.
Pitt keeps turning that over there.#H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
36’ Landy Mertz, back to goal, turns and megs her defender.
You love to see it.#H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
30’ Pitt struggling with a VT counterpress. The Panthers try and play out of the back after a turnover, and Tech just takes it away.
Gonna need to adjust that at the half.#H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
17’ In line for nachos and a soft pretzel.
😎 #H2P #PittWSoc— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
15’ Pitt makes a turnover near the final third, then the defense kinda collapses and fails to track two runners, and it’s 1-0 Hokies. #H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
10’ V Tech unwilling to play it out of the back, so they’re lofting it up on goal kicks.
Pitt regains control in their end, quickly makes a careless turnover, but the VTech striker snaps an open shot well over the bar.
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
4’ Pitt has a nice attack ; Coffield to Moon to Schupansky, blocked wide.
Then they set up for a short corner, no luck. #H2P #PittWSoc
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
Pretty close to a full house here for @Pitt_WSOC ! Amazing glow up for this team the past 3 years. #H2P pic.twitter.com/SfSOikR9in
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
#H2P Kickoff at Ambrose Urbanic. Here we go Pitt! pic.twitter.com/sfJRuIaiVV
— Soccer Rabbi (@soccer_rabbi) October 2, 2021
