Luis Sahmkow’s second half goal gets Pitt back in the win column

File photo courtesy Pitt Athletics

From Pitt Athletics report

Behind a second half tally by Luis Sahmkow, the Pitt men’s soccer team earned the 1-0 road ACC victory over Virginia Tech Friday Night. The win marked the first for the Panthers in their last six matches.

Pitt moves to 6-3-3 overall and 3-2-1 in ACC play on the season while the Hokies fall to 2-10-1 overall and 0-6 in ACC games.

Jackson Gilman had the first good chance of the match in the first minute as he broke free in the box but his header went just wide of the Hokies goal after a great cross from Filip Mirkovic.

The Hokies finally broke through with their first shot of the match in the 22^nd minute Declan Quill bounded a shot that Joe van der Sar poked off the cross bar and out of play to keep the game scoreless.

The Panthers came right back with their best chance of the half in the 27^th minute as Mirkovic placed a perfect ball into the box but Josh Luchini’s volley attempt sailed over the top of the goal despite being wide open after the Virginia Tech keeper took a bad angle on the cross. Valentin Noel was then dragged down right outside the box in the 34^th minute but Lucas Rosa’s free kick went high and left of the goal to keep the game scoreless at half.

The Panthers finally broke the scoreless match in the 58^th minute as Noel played a ball to Mirkovic who crossed a low ball into the front of the goal where Sahmkow buried the ball into the wide open goal. The goal marked Sahmkow’s second of the year, netting goals in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.

The Hokies had a couple chances for the equalizer over the next 10 minutes but van der Sar made a nice stop on a Jack Dearie shot from just outside the box to keep the home team off the scoreboard.

Noel nearly made it a two-goal lead for the Panthers in the 83^rd minute but his redirected shot was stopped by the lunging Virginia Tech keeper.

The Hokies had one final chance in the final minute but the Panthers back line helped clear away the loose ball to secure their fifth clean sheet of the season.

For the match, Virginia Tech held the slim 10-9 edge in shots and the 6-1 advantage in corner kicks. van der Sar finished off the win with five saves while Ben Martino made one in the loss for the Hokies.

The Panthers return home Monday night as they play host to No. 25 Duquesne at Ambrose Urbanic Field. Monday’s game will air on ACC Network Extra at 7:00 pm.

NOTES

*** With the win, Pitt is now 6-5-4 all-time against the Hokies while also winning six straight in the series

*** Noel recorded a point for the fourth straight and the eighth time this season. He shares the team lead with 13 points (5G, 3A) on the year

*** Noel now has 13 career assists which is tied for ninth in program history. He also ranks third in program history with 71 career points (29G, 13A)

*** Mirkovic netted his ACC-leading seventh assist of the season on Sahmkow’s goal. His seven assists are a career-high for the junior

*** Mirkovic moves into a tie for sixth in program history with 14 career assists

*** Sahmkow netted a goal in his second straight game. He now has a career-high two goals and six points on the year

*** van der Sar finished with five saves in his fifth shutout of the season