Pitt
Rutgers
Pitt Women's Soccer Ties Rutgers, 0-0
9/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 23, 2011
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh women’s soccer team played to a scoreless tie with visiting Rutgers in a Big East match Friday at Ambrose Urbanic Field. It was the fourth tie of the season for the Panthers, moving their overall record to 1-6-4.
It was the second straight tie in Big East play for Pitt, which is 0-1-2 in the conference. Rutgers is now 6-3-1 overall and 1-1-1 in conference play.
Kristina Rioux made five saves to record her first individual shutout of the season. She combined with Nicole D’Agostino in a shutout win over Delaware in the Panthers’ lone win of the year.
Rioux came up big with under eight minutes left in regulation, making back-to-back saves to keep her team in the match. The first save was a diving stop from a shot in the box. She recovered just in time to make a second save on a shot following the rebound.
“Both defenses played really well,” Pitt coach Sue-Moy Chin said. “Kristina Rioux had an outstanding game. “
Pitt had its best chance with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation. Ashley Cuba – the team’s leader in goals this season with four – attempted a left-footed shot from the right side that hooked toward the goal. The goalie was clearly beat, but, unfortunately for the Panthers, the ball bounced off the left post and out of play.
“Ashley Cuba took a brilliant shot,” Chin said. “I thought it had a chance of going in. That’s something we need to work on as a team. We’ve got to put our chances away.”
Rutgers nearly put the game away in overtime, but suffered the same fate as Cuba. In a span of five seconds, the Scarlet Knights watched as one of their shots caromed off the post and a second bounced off the crossbar.
The shutout was the first of Rioux’s career and, according to Chin, a big boost for the Panthers going forward.
“I couldn’t be more pleased our team,” Chin said. “The shutout is something we needed. The last few games we struggled to keep the other team from scoring. We are building momentum. We have played much better the last few games, all Big East games.”
The Panthers will continue Big East play with a home match against Seton Hall on Sunday. The match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
