Oct. 13, 2007

Box Score

PITTSBURGH-The Pitt men's soccer team fell 2-1 to conference opponent Seton Hall Saturday afternoon at Founders Field. Sophomore Matt Baker recorded his second goal of the season late in the second half, but it was not enough as the Panthers fell to 1-10-2 on the season and 0-6-1 in the Big East while the Pirates improved to 6-6-0 and 3-3-0.

Seton Hall got on the board early, tallying their first goal of the day in the ninth minute. Forward Eliseo Giusfredi sent a hard shot towards Pitt goalkeeper Jordan Marks (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township), who batted the ball away.

A pile-up ensued in front of the net, as Pirates forward Andrew Welker came away with the ball. Welker drilled a shot past Marks, giving Seton Hall the 1-0 advantage.

In the 12^th minute, Pitt defender Pat Kerr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) narrowly missed tying the game with a shot that went just wide-left of the Seton Hall goal.

Minutes later, the Pirates had an opportunity to extend their lead when Austin Nyquist took a wide-open shot from the right side of the Panther net. Pitt midfielder E.J. McCormick (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) was there for the block, as the score remained 1-0.

The Pirates answered with an insurance goal in the 19^th minute. Giusfredi recorded his second assist of the day as he passed the ball downfield to teammate Steven Rose. Rose found midfielder Brayan Martinez on the left side of the Pitt goal, as Martinez finished for the score, extending the Pirates' lead to 2-0.

The Panthers had another scoring opportunity narrowly miss when Kerr took a free kick in the 35^th minute, passing the ball downfield to freshman Connor Malone (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin). Malone received Kerr's pass, turned and shot, as the ball sailed wide-right.

Following halftime, the Panther offense picked up as Pitt would go on to outshoot the Pirates 9-2 in the second period. The offensive surge finally paid off in the 88^th minute when Baker (Bethlehem, P a./Allentown Central Catholic) recorded his second goal of the season off an assist from teammate Joe Prince-Wright (Southampton, England/Weston Park/Itchen College).

Baker's goal was not enough, however, as Pitt fell by a final score of 2-1. The Panthers outshot the Pirates in the game 14-10, as Seton Hall goalkeeper Paul McHenry notched five saves.

The Panthers will host cross-town rival Duquesne on Wednesday, Oct. 17, in a 7 p.m. matchup at Founders Field before continuing Big East play on Sunday, Oct. 21, as Providence travels to Founders Field for the Panthers' Senior Recognition Day at 12 p.m.

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