Samiah Phiri’s second half brace leads Pitt past Louisville, 3-1, in ACC opener

Photo courtesy Pitt Athletics

FINAL: Pitt 3, Louisville 1

Match Stats

Pitt women’s soccer team broke open a tense, deadlocked affair as Samiah Phiri scored twice in the second half to defeat Louisville, 3-1, in the ACC opening match for both teams at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Saturday night.

Keera Melenhorst opened the scoring for the Panthers in the 11th minute, while Louisville found the equalizer on a penalty kick conversion.

How It Happened

The Panthers didn’t waste much time creating chances and putting pressure on Louisville.

In the 11th minute, Keera Melenhorst put the Panthers in the lead, after receiving a one-touch pass from Lola Abraham, who was on the end of a long ball to the edge of the box from Ellie Coffield.  Melonhorst used a clever move on the ball, , then switched the ball

11' | GOALLLLLLLLLL 🔥@keeramelenhorst puts Pitt on the board first – assisted by @lola_abraham7 & @elliecoffield1

PITT – 1 | LOU – 0

📺 https://t.co/UEasWrW8ED pic.twitter.com/KT6ji45IQl

— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 14, 2024

Louisville would respond with a first half goal of their own, earning a penalty kick chance — which Karsyn Cherry converted to level the match in the 21st minute.

At the half, Pitt’s coaching staff made a few subtle adjustments, as the Panthers would step-up the pressure and start to find more open space as the match evolved.

It was Phiri, who found plenty of room to operate, worked her way into the box in the 72nd minute, taking a second on an indvidual run to freeze the defender and goalkeeper Kailey Kimbell, then slotting home her chance to the right side to give Pitt a 2-1 lead.

Phiri wasn’t finished.

Following a handball in the box, from a cross she created on the right endline, Phiri converted her penalty kick opportunity to give Pitt a commanding 3-1 lead in the 83rd minute.

Look for a more detailed recap to follow along with reaction from the winning Panthers.