Pitt, Michigan Battle to Draw in Season Opener

Friday, August 19

Ann Arbor, MICH.

7:30 PM

Pitt

0-0-1

Michigan

0-0-1

OT 3

OT 4

Pitt

Michigan

Pitt, Michigan Battle to Draw in Season Opener

8/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Aug. 19, 2016

Box Score

ANN ARBOR, MICH. - A gritty match between the University of Pittsburgh women's soccer team and Michigan ended in a draw Saturday night, as the two squads battled to a 2-2 tie under the lights at U-M Soccer Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Alex Wright and Alli Higgs were the goal scorers for the Panthers as Pitt and Michigan clashed for 110 minutes in the season opener. Both goals were the first in the careers of freshman Wright and sophomore Higgs.

"I'm really proud of the team for them to set a precedent of how hard we're going to work and for battling on the road to get a point against a very good Michigan team," said head coach Greg Miller. "I thought Alex Wright and Alli Higgs were really good for us, both scoring their first career collegiate goals. I'm a little disappointed that we couldn't come away with the win, but I think that, at the end of the day, we're very content with a tie against that Michigan team on the road in our first game of the season."

Michigan tallied the first goal of the evening in the 22nd minute to take an early 1-0 lead. Reilly Martin took a free kick from 45 yards out, sending the ball over the head of goalkeeper Taylor Francis.

The Wolverines would not hold the lead for long, however, as freshman Wright recorded the first goal of the season for the Panthers just 12 minutes later, placing a shot past Michigan's Megan Hinz from the left side of the box.

Wright's goal would be the final offense of the first period for both squads, as the Panthers and Wolverines headed into halftime tied at 1-1.

Pitt kept the pressure on early in the second half as an Emily Pietrangelo shot in the 52nd minute forced Hinz to make a save. More than 10 minutes ticked off the clock before the next shot would be recorded, as Francis stopped a kick from Nicky Waldeck.

Both teams would exchange scoring opportunities with each defense remaining strong as time ticked away. In the 85th minute of action, Higgs gave the Panthers their first lead of the evening, converting on a free kick on the left sideline as the ball bounced past the Michigan goalie.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, the lead would not last long as the Wolverines would force overtime with a goal in the 89th minute. Ani Sarkisian found a loose ball in the corner, tying the contest up at 2-2.

Pitt would have a pair of solid opportunities in the 98th minute when a shot by Siobhan McDonough hit the crossbar, followed by a header from Taylor Pryce that would force Hinz to make a save. Freshman Bel Van Noorden sent a shot high over the net in the final minutes of action as the two teams remained tied, forcing a second overtime.

In the second round of extra time, veteran keeper Francis came up with back-to-back saves in the 113th and 114th minutes to keep the Panthers in the contest. A final save from Francis in the waning seconds of the contest would be the final opportunity for either team as the match would conclude in a 2-2 draw.

"We gave up a really bad goal and then came back with a good one on our side to tie it up," added Miller. "We scored our second goal in a similar fashion to their first one, but then they scored late to force overtime. We had a couple of really good chances in overtime, but unfortunately couldn't capitalize on them."

On the evening, Michigan out-shot the Panthers by a margin of 15-9, forcing Francis to make seven saves, compared to just three from Hinz. Gal scorers Wright and Higgs each made one attempt on the evening, both finding the back of the net. Van Noorden and Pryce added two shots in Pitt's offensive output.

The Panthers will make their home debut on Sunday, welcoming city rival Duquesne to Amrbose Urbanic Field at 6 p.m. The contest will be the first of a three-match homestand as Colorado College and Xavier round out Pitt's August home slate.

NOTES: Starters for Pitt; Arielle Fernandez (D), Alli Higgs (D), Ashley Paquet (D), Bel Van Noorden (F), Bri Shingary (D), Emily Pietrangelo (D), Hanna Hannesdottir (M), Juliana Vazquez (M), Sarah Krause (F), Siobhan McDonough (D), Taylor Francis (GK) … Shingary was awarded a yellow card in the 27th minute … Wright's goal was the first of her career … Higgs' goal was the first of her career … the overtime was the first since Oct. 11, 2015 when Pitt knocked off Syracuse 1-0 at Ambrose Urbanic Field in Pittsburgh … the game was Pitt's first double overtime since a 1-1 draw against Saint Francis on Aug. 21 in the Steel City Classic at Rooney Field on the campus of Duquesne … with the tie, the Panthers move to 0-1-1 all-time against Michigan.

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