No. 18 Pitt shut out for the first time this season, fall to No. 8 Clemson, 1-0

Photo courtesy Clemson Athletics

ACC Women’s Soccer

FINAL: Clemson 1, Pitt 0

No. 8 Clemson became the first team to shutout No. 18 Pitt, handing the Panthers a 1-0 loss, on Sunday at Historic Riggs Field.

The win moves the Tigers to 13-1-3 on the year, 7-1-1 in ACC play, while the loss drops the Panthers to 12-4-1 and 5-2-1 in ACC play.  Pitt completed its two-match road swing, dropping both matches against two Top 10 ranked ACC foes, and now sits in fifth place in the Conference standings, safely in position to earn a spot in the ACC Tournament with one conference match to go.

For Clemson, Makenna Morris scored the game winner in the 54th minute, beating Pitt keeper Ellie Breech, who made seven saves on the afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Despite the match being scoreless at the end of the first half, Clemson were on the front foot, as Breech was forced into making five saves. The Panthers were awarded a single corner-kick, while the Tigers finished the half with five corners.

In the second half, Morris found the back of the net to give Clemson the 1-0 advantage, as Renee Lyles was able to find an opening behind Pitt’s back line, found graduate Caroline Conti.

After receiving the pass, Conti was able to pass the ball through an empty gap in the middle of the 18-yard-box to find Morris in scoring position. Morris then launched the ball towards the net as it went just past Breech on the right side.

The Panthers brought plenty of pressure searching for the equalizer, forcing Tigers’ keeper Halle Mackiewicz to make four of her five saves in the second half to secure the shutout.

Maciewicz’s best save may have come in the 67th minute, denying a shot from Sarah Schupansky.

67' | @sarahschupansky forces a save by the Clemson keeper – earning a Pitt corner!

📺 ACC Network pic.twitter.com/TErAz83Xeu

— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) October 22, 2023

Pitt had eight shots, five shots on goal, seven saves and 10 corners on the afternoon.

UP NEXT

The Panthers will return home to Ambrose Urbanic Field as they play host to Virginia Tech to close out the regular season schedule. This ACC matchup will kick off at 7 PM on Thursday, Oct. 26.