Notre Dame rides familiar formula to frustrate and shut down Pitt, 2-0

ACC Men’s Soccer

FINAL: Notre Dame 2, Pitt 0

Box Score/Stats 

A familiar scenario unfolded for Pitt men’s soccer who were defeated 2-0 by a well-organized and opportunistic Notre Dame side at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Friday evening.

Notre Dame capitalized on a first half set piece goal from Luke Burton, then former Riverhounds USL Academy product Wyatt Borso doubled the lead in the second half. Both goals were assisted by Nolan Spicer.

Meanwhile, the Irish sat deep and played physical, limiting and frustrating the Pitt attack in the final third — despite the hosts having over 73 percent possession.  The Panthers, who have consistently been in double digit shots in each game this season, were held to eight attempts and only two on frame.

In their last five matches against Notre Dame since 2021 when they played three times, Pitt is without a win, scoring just two times while posting a 0W-3L-2D record (one of the draws includes elimination in penalty kick shootout from NCAA Elite Eight in December 2021).

The implication from this loss for this season puts Pitt (3-3-0 overall, 0-2-0 in ACC) at the bottom of the ACC standings after two league matches.

As the Irish started the match keeping the Panther attack at bay, they took advantage of their first corner kick opportunity in the 14th minute.

Spicer sent a one-time volley — off the bounce following a redirected ball from the near post after the initial service — which connected with the center of Burton’s body, the redirected into goal.

Pitt continued to possess at will after surrendering the goal through the first half and into the early stages of the second half. However, creating anything of substance in the final third was a different story.

The best the Panthers could summon was a chance in the 27th minute on a Grayson Carter attempt that was saved by the Irish keeper, Blake Kelly.

Pitt’s frustrations boiled over after a few sequences where match official Richonne Clark allowed play to go on, despite Carter getting knocked down in a collision in the box with Kelly in the 65th minute, then shortly after, Pitt defender Niklas Sorensen was whistled for a foul.

Despite sitting deep for much of the time Pitt was moving forward and possessing through the middle and width, Notre Dame put its high press into action at the most opportune time, moments following Pitt started to unravel.

Stepping in to intercept a pass deep in the attacking third, Spicer did some nifty work on the ball to evade a pair of Panthers, then found Borso on the edge of the box.  From there, one of the two former Hounds Academy products on the field in this match (the other was Pitt’s Anders Bordoy, took a touch with his back to goal, turned to his left, then drove a hard, liner that was too hot for Pitt keeper Jack Moxom to handle.

Pitt struggled to find a quick answer, having a few additional shots blocked, then finally getting a second shot on frame when it was too late, in the 90th minute, off the foot of Albert Thorson, but Kelly denied Pitt’s last chance.

The Panthers will look to regroup when they host Incarnate Word on Monday night.  The Panthers will then travel to face Maryland next Friday in another non-conference match.