University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Women's Soccer Knocks Off Villanova, 1-0
9/22/1998 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Women's Soccer Knocks Off Villanova, 1-0
9/22/1998
It was an exciting week in women's soccer as the Pittsburgh Panthers defeated two Big East foes and set two records.
The Panthers knocked off the Villanova Wildcats, 1-0, in Pittsburgh's season home- opener on Sept. 18 at Pitt Stadium. The victory set an all-time season-best record with four wins, and gave the Panthers their third Big East victory of the season, one better than their 1997 conference debut record of two wins.
Freshman forward Brigid Handforth (Downington, Pa./Downington) scored the lone goal 38:14 into the game and was assisted by sophomore Charity McClure (Ashville, N.C./Ashville) and freshman Anya Bohun-Chudyniv (Silver Spring, Md./John F. Kennedy). It was Handforth's first game of the season and the first goal of her collegiate career. Sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Bashor (Harrisburg, Pa./South Brunswick) recorded six saves for Pittsburgh. It was her fourth win and first shutout of the season.
Handforth and McClure teamed up on every goal for the Panthers in a 3-2 victory over Rutgers on Sept. 20 at Sewickley Academy. With three goals on the day, Pittsburgh set a single season record with 23 goals.
Handforth set the pace for Pittsburgh just 1:42 into the game with an assist by McClure. Five minutes later, Handforth returned the favor by assisting McClure's game-winning goal. Junior Uchenna Bright scored both goals for the Scarlet Knights, her first coming at 26:16 into game, making the score 2-1 at the half. Handforth netted her second goal from a McClure set- up 66:50. Bright scored the last goal for Rutgers with the assist by Alyssa Radu at 70:27.
Handforth scored three goals for the Panthers in just her first two games of the season. McClure leads the team with 19 points on six goals and seven assists.
The Panthers are currently on a four-game winning streak and increase their record to 5-2-0 overall, 4-1-0 in the Big East. Rutgers fell to 1-5-1 overall, 1-2-1 in conference play.
Pittsburgh resumes action on Friday, Sept. 25, when it participates in the U.S. Air Force Academy Tournament. In addition to host Air Force, Wyoming will also compete in the tournament.
Big East Honors: Pittsburgh's McClure and forward Patricia Bradley (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) were named Big East Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively, for their efforts against St. John's the week of Sept. 14. It was the first time Pittsburgh has received either honor.
