Season Finale Stalemate: Lola Abraham’s equalizer earns Pitt a 2-2 draw at SMU to conclude 2026 campaign

Pitt Panthers brought their 2026 campaign to a close on Thursday night, fighting back twice to earn a 2-2 draw against SMU. Freshmen Maci Tew and Riverview native Lola Abraham provided the goal-scoring firepower for Pitt, but the point was not quite enough to keep their thin postseason hopes alive, leaving Ben Waldrum’s squad with a 7-8-3 overall record and a 1-7-2 mark in ACC play to wrap up the year.

The Mustangs struck first in the 10th minute, slipping a pass behind the Panther backline to slot home the opening tally past an advancing Elli Johnson. Pitt responded with poise just 12 minutes later. Abraham generated the danger by whipping a cross into the box that was parried away by the SMU goalkeeper, only for Maci Tew to pounce on the loose rebound and smash home her third goal of her freshman season to equalize at 1-1. Pitt carried the physical edge and a 9-5 shot advantage into the halftime break.

Pitt pressed high out of the interval, earning three corner kick sequences in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, but SMU capitalized against the run of play in the 64th minute. Following a corner kick scrum that was initially cleared to the top of the 18, an SMU forward struck a low drive past a diving Johnson to restore a 2-1 lead for the visitors.

Unwilling to go quietly, the Panthers rallied again in the 75th minute. Sage Stelzer picked out Abraham at the edge of the penalty area, where the freshman displayed brilliant footwork to shake off her defender and curl a pinpoint strike into the far corner for her third goal of the year.

Needing an outright victory to stay in NCAA tournament consideration, Pitt threw numbers forward down the stretch, generating several high-stress moments inside the SMU 18-yard box, but the elusive third goal never materialized before the final whistle.

Looking Ahead

While the 2026 match schedule has officially reached its conclusion, our coverage at Pittsburgh Soccer Now is far from over. Rachael Palmer and I will have plenty more analysis, season reviews, and player breakdowns coming your way in the weeks ahead.

We’ll be catching up with head coach Ben Waldrum as his staff transitions directly into a crucial recruiting cycle and begins mapping out the spring training schedule to fine-tune tactical details for this young core ahead of 2027.

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).