University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Valparaiso
Pitt Men's Soccer Draws 1-1 Tie With Valparaiso
9/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 4, 2011
PITTSBURGH -Sophomore forward Nico Wrobel (Berlin, Germany) scored his second goal in as many games as the University of Pittsburgh men's soccer team posted a 1-1 double overtime draw against Valparaiso on Sunday at the Duquesne Invitational.
The goal was the team-best third of the season for Wrobel, second by way of a penalty kick.Defender Robert Iledare, goalkeeper Lee Johnston and Wrobel were each named to the all-tournament team.
It wasn't a bad weekend, we got a win and a draw and we are going to build on that for sure," said head coach Joe Luxbacher. "We have a lot of new guys in that have never seen the college level so they are learning on the fly. They are good players and talented athletes, but it is a change for them to go from high school and club to college. We played five or six freshmen a lot of minutes today and it is an adjustment, but I am pleased with the progress and know we can be better."
Senior Terry Akpua (Bowie, Md.) played a large part in the tally, streaking down the left side and feeding Wrobel about 13 yards out in the left center of the field. Wrobel pulled Valpo goalkeeper Kyle Zobeck out of the box and drew an offense. Awarded a penalty kick, Wrobel drilled the free shot into the center of the goal as Zobeck chose to go to his right.
The Panthers had a great look with 18 minutes to play when midfielder Andy Clifford (Upper St. Clair, Pa.) was able to get in front of his defender and streak 15 yards down the near line. He fed to Ryan Myers (Wallingford, Pa.), who one-timed it - only to see the strike stopped short by Zobek, who bobbled it before coming up with the ball.
Valpo evened the score at 1-1 just 28 seconds later on a goal from Todd Vervynckt, his second of the season.
The squads exchanged a pair of free kicks in the final six minutes of regulation with an attempt from 30 yards out from Alex Harrison (Isle of Man, United Kingdom) drifting high and to the left of the box.
In the first overtime period, the best chance to take the victory occurred when a shot from six yards out dead center by Daniel Mark (Louisville, Ky.) sailed over the crossbar.
Freshman Lee Johnston (Newberry, Fla.) got his second start in goal, moving to 1-0-1 on the year.
Pitt returns to action next weekend (Sept. 9 and 11) in its own tournament, the Pitt/Nike Invitational. The Panthers play Air Force on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Duquesne meets Bowling Green in the earlier contest that evening (5 p.m.).
Shots: Pitt 11, Valparaiso 16
Saves: Pitt (Johnston, 1), Valparaiso (Zobeck, 3)
Corner Kicks: Pitt 1, Valparaiso 10
Fouls: Pitt 16, Valparaiso 8
Duquesne Invitational All-Tournament Team
Lee Johnston
Nico Wrobel
Robert Illedare
Pitt finishes second at Duquesne Invite by way of tiebreaker for total goals scored in the two-day event. Host Dukes win the tournament.
