MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—The Pittsburgh Men’s soccer team tied West Virginia 3-3 in a physical double overtime nail biter at the Mountaineer Soccer Complex Tuesday night in a Big East battle for a bid into the Conference’s postseason soccer tournament.

Redshirt freshman Thomas DeCato (LaGrangeville, N.Y./Arlington) had a career game as he notched his first career goal as well as his first multi-goal game of his career. DeCato gave the Panthers the early 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of play when he collected a loose ball from West Virginia goalkeeper Nick Noble. Blasting an 18-yard chip shot past the outstretched arms of Noble, DeCato recorded his first career goal and points.

Devon McTavish took a feed from Rusty Girton in the 29^th minute of play to head the ball past Pittsburgh goalkeeper Justin Lowery (Atlanta, Ga./Paideia School) tying the score at one.

Pittsburgh (5-9-1 overall, 2-5-1 Big East) responded in the 51^st minute of play when freshman midfielder Brendon Smith (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) headed a loose ball that caromed off the crossbar past Noble to grab the 2-1 lead.

The Panthers’ offense wasn’t finished as it notched its third and final goal of the match in the 58^th minute, when DeCato took a pass from Keeyan Young (North Wales, Pa./Haverford School) to blast home a 15-yard shot to give Pittsburgh the 3-1 lead.

West Virginia (4-8-3, 1-4-3) answered back in the 71^st minute as Cole Beasley threaded a pass to Jarrod Smith, who finished the ball inside the near post to cut Pittsburgh’s lead in half making the score 3-2.

The final goal of the contest came just two minutes later when McTavish took a pass from Albert Smith to finish the ball from 10-yards out tying the game at three.

 In the extra periods of play the physical play continued as the team’s combined for a total of 40 fouls and six yellow cards during the match. With neither team wanting to back down from the tough play that marked the contest, the competitive spirits of the team’s came to a head as an on-field confrontation ensued. The officials handed out a total of two red cards and another yellow card resulting in a total of three players being sent off with 2:21 left in the second overtime period. Two West Virginia players received red cards, while the second yellow card for Young ended his night prematurely.

The Mountaineers recorded 24 shots and seven corner kicks, while the Panthers notched 15 shots and five corners kicks. Lowery finished the contest with five saves, while saving the game in the first overtime period as he denied McTavish of a hat trick and a Mountaineer victory.

Pittsburgh returns to action Friday, Oct. 24^th as it hosts the Ohio State Buckeyes in a non-conference battle at Founders Field. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

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