Oct. 22, 2001

PITTSBURGH-Senior forward Mark Sikora (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) tallied his third goal of the season with just 7:35 remaining to lift Pittsburgh to a 3-2 victory at Providence, its first Big East Conference win of the year.

The goal broke a 2-2 tie in a very closely-played game. Providence scored first at the 16:02 mark of the first half when Carlos Suero directed a Thomas Blesso pass behind Panther goalkeeper Justin Gaul (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./William Tennent).

As the first half neared completion, Chris Churchill (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) beat Michael Greulich on a direct free kick from about 20 yards away to tie the game at 1-1.

Pittsburgh took its first lead at 59:52 when freshman Jeff Krause (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield) tallied the first goal of his career on an assist from John Occhiuto (Getzville, N.Y./Williamsville North). It was Occhiuto's first point as a Panther since transferring from Canisius in the off-season.

Providence tied the game at 2-2 on a goal by Andrew Bussmann from five yards out off a rebound. That set the stage for Sikora's third goal of the year on a breakaway at the 82:25 mark to give Pittsburgh (4-7-1, 1-5-1) its first win in the Big East. The Panthers were outshot, 17-13, with Sikora leading the way with four attempts.

The Panthers will host Robert Morris on Wed., Oct. 24, but the game will be played at Robert Morris in Moon Township, Pa. Game time is 3 p.m.