Pitt battles Santa Clara to 1-1 draw to close out California weekend trip

NCAA Women’s Soccer 

FINAL: Pitt 1, Santa Clara 1

Match Stats 

Pitt Panthers concluded their California road swing with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against West Coast Conference power Santa Clara on Sunday afternoon at Stevens Stadium.

Behind another clinical finish from transfer midfielder Celine Ottah, Ben Waldrum’s side departs the West Coast with a strong 1-0-1 trip, pushing their overall record to 2-1-1 ahead of a return home to Ambrose Urbanic Field.

How It Happened

First Half

The opening 45 minutes saw a balanced tactical chess match as both sides recorded eight shots apiece. Santa Clara attempted to dictate early momentum with aggressive high-pressing, testing the Pitt backline with central runs from Kennedy Schoennauer and Adee Goulden.

Freshman netminder Elli Johnson and senior central defenders Claire Jones and Katie Zailski maintained a tight low block, limiting the Broncos to a single shot on target in the 28th minute. On the other end, Pitt threatened through direct wide service, with Sage Stelzer (team-high 3 shots, 2 on target) and Adi Bianchin forcing clean saves from Broncos keeper Ally Harrison. The teams went into the half locked at 0-0.

Second Half

Coming out of the locker room, Pitt altered the rhythm of the match entirely. The Panthers began patiently recycling possession through Katie Ellermeyer in the central third, while pushing their wing-backs aggressively high up the flanks to compress the pitch and pin Santa Clara inside their own half.

That tactical shift bore fruit in the 61st minute with a moment of brilliant combination play. Senior defender Claire Jones initiated the sequence out of the back, linking up with Ellermeyer, who turned and whipped a pinpoint cross directly into the heart of the 18-yard box. Slicing through the central defense on a perfectly timed run, Celine Ottah beat her marker to the ball and applied a delicate, lofted touch that floated over the rushing Santa Clara goalkeeper and into the back of the net—marking her second goal in as many matches on the West Coast trip.

The lead, however, proved brief. Santa Clara threw numbers forward immediately, overloading the central channels to force Pitt into chaotic tracking. Just four minutes later, Katie Zailski was whistled for a late challenge inside the box, picking up a yellow card and conceding a spot-kick.

Santa Clara’s Rylan Cashman stepped up to the dot in the 66th minute and squeezed a high, powerful strike past the outstretched fingertips of a diving Elli Johnson to draw the Broncos level at 1-1.

The final 20 minutes turned into an absolute siege. Santa Clara threw everything at the Panther backline, winning five of their eight corner kicks in the closing stretch alone. Pitt’s central defense weathered wave after wave of aerial service, but it was Johnson who provided the final piece of heroics. In the 85th minute, the freshman goalkeeper reacted instantly to palm away a dangerous redirection from Hildi Benediktsdottir, preserving the 1-1 draw and ensuring the Panthers returned home to Pittsburgh with a point in their pocket.

Key Takeaways and Notes

• Ottah’s Second-Phase Scoring: Celine Ottah is proving to be an elite box-arriving threat from midfield. Her timing on late runs into the 18 has given Pitt an immediate focal point in transition.

• Goalkeeper Maturation: Freshman Elli Johnson continues to play with composure under pressure, handling 15 total shots faced and making high-leverage saves during Santa Clara’s late corner-kick siege.

• Wide Width from Stelzer & Ellermeyer: Pitt’s wide rotation successfully unlocked Santa Clara’s compact backline, creating quality service into high-probability scoring areas.

• Conceding Quick Responses: For the second time in three matches, Pitt surrendered an equalizer within five minutes of taking the lead. Discipline in transitional rest-defense immediately following a goal remains a priority.

• Set-Piece & Corner Discipline: Surrendering eight total corners and conceding a penalty inside the box allowed Santa Clara back into a match where Pitt had seized tactical control.

Up Next

The Panthers (2-1-1) return to Pittsburgh to host Liberty on Thursday, August 27 at Ambrose Urbanic Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET f– and yes — get those student out there on Thursday as it’s or Dollar Hot Dog Night in Oakland.

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).