Sept. 9, 2001

PITTSBURGH-Senior midfielder Katrina Shibata (Lakewood, Calif./Mayfair) scored on a free kick with 14:08 remaining to lift the Panthers to a 3-2 victory over Western Carolina in the first of two games for Pittsburgh in the adidas/Spartan Classic in Greensboro, N.C.

It was Shibata's first goal of the year and third of her career. The Panthers got out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Jacqueline Fix and Cande Ruiz-Bradbury in the first 52:35 of the game.

Fix (Monaca, Pa./Center) beat Catamount goalkeeper Mandi Tinsley from eight yards out on an assist from Ruiz-Bradbury (Oxnard, Calif./Santa Clara) at the 17:26 mark to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

After the next 35 minutes passed with no goals scored by either team, Ruiz-Bradbury netted her second goal of the season off a corner kick by Kimberly Sturk (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver Falls) at 52:35.

Just 20 seconds later, the Catamounts got a goal from Kelly Barker and tied the game at 2-2 on Jordan Howell's 25-foot blast on a free kick at the 56:15 mark.

Shibata's goal was the difference, however, giving the Panthers their second win in three games. Panther goalkeeper Gretchen Ross (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) made five saves, including two big stops after Shibata's goal to preserve the victory.

Pittsburgh (2-1) will face host UNC-Greensboro at 3:30 p.m. in the second game of the tournament on Sunday.