University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Men's Soccer Advances to Big East Tournament
11/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 3, 2008
Big East Men's Soccer Tournament Central
PITTSBURGH--The Pitt men's soccer team advances to Big East Tournament competition for the second time in the last three seasons. The No. 6 Blue Division seed Panthers will travel to No. 3 Red Division seed DePaul for a Wednesday, Nov. 5 match at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT.
Pitt enters the 2008 Big East Men's Soccer Tournament with a 7-7-3 record and 3-6-2 Big East record while DePaul is 7-6-4 overall and 5-4-2 in Big East play. Pitt's seven victories on the year mark the most wins in a season since it registered eight victories in 2002.
The winner of the Pitt-DePaul match advances to play No. 2 Blue Division seed Connecticut (9-3-6, 6-3-2 Big East) on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. That contest will be played in Storrs, Conn. The winner of that contest advances to play in the Big East Tournament Final Four held on the USF campus from Nov. 14-16 in Tampa, Fla.
Offensively, E.J. McCormick leads the Panthers with 11 points (three goals and five assists). Mike McDade and Joe Prince-Wright each have scored three goals apiece. Chris Wilcox and Ian Farnsworth both have netted two goals.
Defensively, the Panthers have held their opponents to just 19 goals in 17 games and held 15 of their 17 opponents to two goals or less. Pitt's defense led by central defenders Andy Kalas and Connor Malone along with Eric Jaeger and McDade ranks among national and conference leaders. As a team, the Panthers rank 13th in save percentage, 47th in shutout percentage and 39th in defensive goals against average.
Pitt's two goalkeepers--Jordan Marks and Eric Barnes--have combined for 86 saves and an outstanding 1.05 goals against average. Barnes ranks among national leaders in save percentage (13th), goals against average (36th) and total saves (63rd).
Playing close games all season long, Pitt has gone into overtime or double overtime six times this season. Fourteen of Pitt's 17 matches have been decided by one goal or less.
Pitt last advanced to Big East Tournament play in 2006.
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