Pitt, Duquesne women’s soccer teams postseason hopes tarnished with home losses

On Thursday night, both Pitt and Duquesne women’s soccer teams couldn’t overcome early deficits, each losing to their respective opponents, both in their last regular season matches at home where they saw their postseason hopes tarnished.

Pitt Drops Regular Season Finale to No. 2 Wake Forest

Pitt came out on the front foot, but things turned sour against Wake Forest in the 24th minute, when Emily Colton sailed a long, angled cross from midfield. The pass took an awkward bounce by a Pitt defender and Caiya Hanks was able to gather to slip a shot near side by a diving Ellie Breech for a 1-0 advantage.

Emily Colton➕Caiya Hanks🟰Goals (lots of them)

📺ACCNX https://t.co/0SQCkacIYF pic.twitter.com/rLMj0jhcoh

— Wake Women's Soccer (@WakeWSoccer) October 24, 2024

Despite getting into the final third enough, the Panthers continued to struggle with getting any kind of payoff, registering 14 shots in the match, but just one on frame.

Wake Forest would capitalize early in the second half, doubling its lead with a nice passing sequence that was poked home by Emily Murphy with Emily Morris and Hanks earning assists on the play.

Proper finish 💥

📺ACCNX https://t.co/wQV21DLEv0 pic.twitter.com/JXccup7M93

— Wake Women's Soccer (@WakeWSoccer) October 25, 2024

Pitt’s offense came to life over the final 20 minutes beginning with a goal being wiped away by an offsides call. Kerra Melenhorst played Deborah Abiodun in on goal but an offside call erased the shot from 12-yards out that found the back of the net.

In the 81^st minute, Ava Boyd was taken down in the box after a nice left to right chop that would have left one-on-one with the keeper on the right wing.

Samiah Phiri had the opportunity — but failed to convert the penalty kick — deflating the Panthers’ effort to cut into the lead.

Still, Pitt continued to press for a pair of goals over the remaining nine minutes to try to salvage a result.

Pitt earned consecutive corners to test Wake in the 85^th minute but a Katie Zailski header on the second attempt went high and settled into the top of the netting.

Abiodun gathered a clear attempt at the top of the box and had a half volley strike with 2:15 remaining that went wide left of goal.

With this loss, the Panthers slip to 9-5-3 overall and 3-4-2 in the ACC, while Wake Forest extended its unbeaten streak to seven games while improving  to 11-2-2 (6-1-1 ACC).

The Panthers conclude the regular season Thursday, Oct. 31 at No. 7 Notre Dame. The match will be Pitt’s third consecutive against teams ranked in the top 25 of the United Soccer Coaches Poll.

While the Panthers have been eliminated from having a chance to return to the ACC Tournament, where they were a semifinalist a year ago, they will likely be a bubble team as far as the NCAA tournament is considered and will likely need a positive result in South Bend to have a chance to be selected for the Big Dance this year.

Dukes Shut Out by St. Joseph’s

Duquesne University women’s soccer team concluded the home portion of its 2024 season Thursday, dropping a 3-0 decision to Saint Joseph’s at Rooney Field. The Dukes dipped to 9-7-0 (.562) overall with the loss, including 3-6-0 (.333) in the Atlantic 10.  Being four points off a playoff spot, the Dukes were eliminated from A10 postseason.

Saint Joseph's secures an #A10WSoccer Championship playoff berth besting #DuqWSoccer 3-0. This combined with other results from earlier eliminates Duquesne from a chance at making the playoffs. The Dukes have one game remaining Sunday at George Mason. 1:30 kick @pghsoccernow.

— Zachary Weiss (@ZacharyMWeiss) October 25, 2024

“I think if you look at it as a whole this is the second or third game in a row where we’ve doubled (our opponent) up in shots,” interim head coach Dave Gray said.

“They took a lot of our space away. A lot of their play is based on sitting back and really making it difficult to play against them. They did that again tonight. We’re looking for the perfect goal or the perfect shot. We have to find a way to get in the box and scrap for some of those types of goals. Maybe not look for the pretty goal all the time but look for the ugly goal, too.”

The Hawks were able to take control early, picking up a pair of goals in the first 11 minutes of the contest to grab a 2-0 advantage.

The first marker came courtesy of Emily Hanrahan, who split a pair of Duquesne defenders by weaving through traffic before unleashing a shot at 4:42 that got past senior goalkeeper Maddy Neundorfer.

A little over five minutes later, SJU (7-3-7 | 3-1-5 Atlantic 10) had a corner kick, with Natalie Nevins playing the ball off her body before Rachel Brown was able to locate the loose ball and score at 11:05.

Duquesne held a 22-12 cushion in shots in the contest, including a 7-6 edge in shots on goal. The Dukes had a number of opportunities after falling behind, 2-0, with shots either going high, wide or being blocked. Included among the shots was a laser from sophomore Paige Kuisis that went just wide as well as a shot late in the first half from redshirt freshman Hailey Longwell that was turned away by Saint Joseph’s goalkeeper Katie Cappelletti. The pressure for Duquesne continued into the second half, when it looked like Longwell was going to put the Dukes on the board. Her rocket shot, however, hit the right post and ricocheted away from the goal. A total of five players registered at least three shots Thursday for Duquesne, including four from Longwell and sophomore Jayden Sharpless.

Next up, the Dukes travel to Fairfax, Va., for their final game of the 2024 campaign Sunday, Oct. 27, with a 1:30 p.m. kickoff against George Mason.

John Krysinsky

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).