Pitt Downs WVU in the #BackyardBrawl, 7-0

Tuesday, September 26

Pittsburgh, Pa.

7:00 PM

Pitt

4-5-0, 0-3-0ACC

West Virginia

6-2-2, 0-0-0MAC

West Virginia

Pitt

Pitt Downs WVU in the #BackyardBrawl, 7-0

9/26/2017 11:19:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Vidovich Postgame Photo Gallery

Panthers Earn First Win over Mountaineers Since 2000

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh men's soccer team dominated the West Virginia Mountaineers Tuesday night in the 48^th edition of the Backyard Brawl. The Panthers shutout the long-time rival 7-0, scoring four goals in the first half.

With the win the Panthers improve to 4-5-0 overall, while handing West Virginia its second loss of the season moving the Mountaineers to 6-2-2 overall.

"This win gives us hope and belief," said second-year head coach Jay Vidovich. "Thing went our way tonight and hopefully we learn from this. We need to continue to play disciplined, stay together and know that we can overcome anything."

Six different Panthers contributed goals in the win including sophomore Alex Peperak, senior Pol Planellas, junior Joshua Gaspari, freshman Alexander Dexter and redshirt freshman Tim Ekponé, while freshman Edward Kizza sent in two of his own.

In goal, redshirt sophomore Mikal Outcalt recorded his fourth career shutout with the win.

Peperak got things going for Pitt in the 33^rd minute when he chased down a header in the box from redshirt senior Mauriq Hill and sent it past the WVU goalkeeper for his first collegiate goal.

Planellas wasted little time tacking on the second goal of the night as he blasted the ball into the back of the net from nearly 40 yards out in the 36^th minute.

Three minutes later, Dexter sent Gaspari a perfect ball up the right side setting up Gaspari for Pitt's third goal of the night and his second on the season.

Dexter added a goal of his own in the 42^nd minute, number two of the season, thanks to junior Javi Perez.

Kizza opened the second half ready to fire as he netted back-to-back goals in an eight-minute span. His first goal was thanks to Gaspari who fired in the ball from the right side to Kizza in the middle, locating the back of the right side of the net.

Entering the 54^th minute, Planellas sent a ball up the left side to Kizza who drew the keeper and poked it to the right side of the back of the net for Pitt's sixth goal of the night and his third of the season.

The Panthers recorded their seventh and final goal in the 66^th minute off the foot of Ekponé who put in a ball from Dexter while on the right side of the box.

#BackyardBrawl Notes
- Pitt's win marks the first victory over the Mountaineers since 2000.
- Largest win-margin over West Virginia in program history.
- Largest win margin for the Panthers since their 9-0 win over Howard in 2013.
- 28^th time in program history scoring seven or more goals.
- First time scoring seven goals in a game since 1998.
- The Panthers haven't scored four goals in an opening half since a 2013 win over Howard.

The Panthers resume action Friday, Sept. 29 when Syracuse makes the trip to Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. ACC match-up.

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