Miami and Pitt Draw, 3-3
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – In front of a boisterous home crowd, the University of Miami tallied a trio of goals to draw with Pittsburgh Sunday night, 3-3.
“I thought we played really well in the first half,” Miami head coach Sarah Barnes said. “There were some really good moments, where we moved the ball and got ourselves in some very good goal-scoring positions.”
Just 2:51 into regulation, Bayleigh Chaviers found the ball at her feet with a defender closing in. The senior defender made a move down the far sideline, before cutting back and taking a touch towards the outside corner of the 18-yard box.
The Stephenville, Texas, native then curled a shot towards the far left post that ricocheted into the back of the net to place Miami (3-4-2, 0-2-1 ACC) in front 1-0. The tally marked the second of the season for the senior and her first career goal in ACC play.
Following the opening tally, the Hurricanes continued to apply the pressure with Maria Jakobsdottir placing a shot destined to hit the target in the 13th minute, however a Pitt defender was able to get her body in front to prevent the goal scoring opportunity.
In the 28th minute, Chaviers sent a beautiful one-timing cross off a through ball from senior forward Kristina Fisher, but Panthers goalkeeper Amaia Pena was able to make a play on the ball.
Two minutes later, Chaviers received the ball just outside the 18-yard box and sent a blast towards the target, but the defenders attempt missed just high of the cross bar.
In the 33rd minute, Fisher chased down a ball heading out of bounds and made a move past a Pitt defender before sending a blast towards the bottom right pocket of the goal. However, Pena was able to make the save.
Just five minutes after returning from the halftime break, the Hurricanes doubled their lead when junior forward Tia Dupont sent a cross toward the awaiting foot of Fisher, who sent a pass in front of goal to junior midfielder Michelle Giamportone.
Registering her first ACC goal, Giamportone one-timed the ball past the keeper to place Miami in front 2-0.
Just 20 seconds after the goal, Pitt (3-5-3, 0-1-2 ACC) began to apply the pressure on Miami when Amanda West sent a shot on target, forcing sophomore goalkeeper Tyler Speaks to make an incredible play to knock the ball out of harm’s way.
Then, in the 53rd minute, Pittsburgh cut its deficit in half when Sydney Marasco found the back of the net.
In the 63rd minute, the Panthers evened the match, 2-2, when Anna Rico snuck the ball past Speaks.
“I thought Pitt came out much stronger in the second half and I don’t think we responded to their pressure and recognized tactically what the changes that needed to be made were,” Barnes said. “That cost us and led to some critical mistakes. It is unfortunate because I felt like it was a game that we had a hold of, but we just have to learn and to continue to understand how to finish games off. I think we have to be excited that we scored goals. We just have got to clean up some things defensively.”
In the 72nd minute, Miami earned a free-kick from 40-yards out when Chaviers was wrestled to the ground by Madison Clayton.
On the free kick, Ine Ostmo sent a beautiful ball towards the Panther goal that connected with sophomore defender Selena Fortich, who buried it home to place Miami in front 3-2. The goal also marked the first of the sophomore’s collegiate career.
“I honestly had no idea it went in,” Fortich joked. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I scored.’ It felt good though, especially since it gave us the lead. Hopefully more will come [this season].”
With just four minutes remaining in regulation, Pittsburgh once again evened the match when Marasco registered her second goal of the contest.
In overtime, the Hurricanes outshot the Panthers 5-2, but neither team was able to find of the back of the net resulting in a 3-3 draw.
The Canes will return to action on Friday, when they host the nation’s top-ranked team, Virginia, at 8 p.m. at Cobb Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
To keep up with the University of Miami soccer team on social media, follow @CanesFutbol on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
