Pitt
2-3-3, 0-2-1ACC
Louisville
5-1-1, 3-0-0ACC
Pitt Men's Soccer Loses At Louisville, 4-1
9/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Box Score | Box Score (.pdf) | Season Stats
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Scoring two first half goals and four in the first 50 minutes, nationally-ranked No. 9 Louisville handed Pittsburgh a 4-1 loss in Atlantic Coast Conference action on Friday, Sept. 26 at Lynn Stadium.
The Panthers (2-2-3, 0-2-1 ACC) lost for just the first time in their last four games, having earned three ties in the last three outings before the loss at Louisville (5-1-1, 3-0-0 ACC). This is the second straight road game Pitt has played a top-10 outfit, having lost to then-ranked No. 3 North Carolina on Sept. 12.
Ricardo Velazco had a two goal performance for the Cardinals, scoring once in each half. Shane Campbell contributed a goal of his own and an assist. Daniel Keller scored Louisville’s final goal and Ben Strong added an assists earlier in the game.
Sophomore Kevin Murray tied senior Dan Prete for the team lead with two goals on the season. Murray already has five goals in his career, which is tied for ninth most at Pitt since 2001. Junior Patrick Dixon assisted Murray’s goal, his first assist in a Pitt uniform, which gives him three points on the year.
Not even three minutes into the game, Louisville tested Pitt’s defense and showed why it wouldn’t take long to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Strong fired the second shot of the game off the crossbar and Andrew Brody collected the rebound and put another shot on goal. Without Panthers goalkeeper junior Dan Lynd in the picture, senior Julian Dickenson had to step up for the defensive save.
It would only take another 11 minutes, however, until Louisville was able to break open the scoring. The Cardinals were awarded a free kick outside the box on the right side of the field. Campbell stepped up to take the kick, and with the help of a funny bounce, was able to slip his shot by Lynd.
A mere 4:22 later, Louisville doubled its lead on Velazco’s first score of the night. Following an attempt by Tim Kubel that was blocked, Strong controlled the loose ball and passed to Velazco, who was in the center of the box. Velazco turned and sent his attempt to the lower left corner from 12 yards out for the goal.
Louisville continued stepping on the gas pedal throughout the first half, forcing Lynd to make a pair of spectacular saves in the 24th minute. Lynd made the stop on the initial shot from Romilio Hernandez but couldn’t grab the loose ball. Will Vitalis beat Lynd to the ball, but Lynd made the sliding save to keep it a two-goal game.
The Cardinals would have to settle for a 2-0 halftime lead after another pair of missed opportunities in the 27th minute, when Louisville was stopped by the post and another defensive save, this time by sophomore Stephane Pierre.
Within the first five minutes of the second half, Louisville doubled its lead again, increasing the score to 4-0. At the 47:18 mark Velazco tallied his second goal on a penalty kick. Only 122 seconds later, the Cards completed their scoring on Keller’s goal, which was assisted by Campbell on a free kick.
For the remaining 40 minutes of the game, Pitt was able to apply some pressure and control the tempo with Louisville beginning to back off. Despite being outshot 19-7 for the game, the Panthers actually held a 5-2 advantage after the Cards’ last goal and had the only two corner kicks in the second half.
One of those corners led directly to Pitt’s goal in the 74th minute when Dixon sent his kick into the box where Murray was waiting 14 yards away from the goal on the left side and headed it in for the score.
Looking to cut into the lead even more, Pitt placed two shots on goal in the final seven minutes, forcing Louisville keeper Joachim Ball to make his only two saves of the game.
Lynd finished the game with four saves in goal, just shy of his 4.33 average per game entering Friday’s matchup with the Cards.
The Panthers return to the Pittsburgh area for a non-conference game at nearby Robert Morris on Tuesday, Sept. 30 with a kickoff time of 3:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Shane Campbell (1)
Free kick from right side near corner be
13:37
Ricardo Velazco (3)
Assisted By: Ben Strong
From 12 yards, center of box on feed fro
17:59
Ricardo Velazco (4)
LOU Ricardo Velazco PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 4 for season.
47:18
Daniel Keller (1)
Assisted By: Shane Campbell
Free kick from outside 18 into center bo
49:20
Kevin Murray (2)
Assisted By: Patrick Dixon
Header from 14 yards off corner kick fro
73:20
