Women's Soccer Storms Back to Defeat Virginia Commonwealth 3-2
10/20/2002
Sara Gutting scores career-high two goals, Jamie Pelusi makes 12 saves as Panthers get back on track
Virginia Commonwealth Boxscore
PITTSBURGH--Sara Gutting scored a career-high two goals as Pittsburgh battled back from a 1-0 second half deficit to defeat Virginia Commonwealth 3-2 in women’s soccer action Sunday at Founders Field. The victory improves Pittsburgh to 4-13-0 overall while Virginia Commonwealth drops to 11-3-1 overall.
Virginia Commonwealth went up 1-0 in the 54th minute when Catherine Duchesne headed in Hedda Gardsjord’s cross from the right side. But Pittsburgh battled back. The Panthers were awarded a penalty kick after a VCU defender took down a Pitt player in the box at the 70:42 mark. Lauren Sciocchetti tied the game at 1-1 when she calmly placed the ball past VCU goalkeeper Chrissy Lloyd into the lower left portion of the goal.
Pittsburgh wasn’t finished as Sara Gutting scored the first of her two goals six minutes later as she controlled and converted a through ball up the middle made possible by Geraldine Loveless and Aimee Romasco. Gutting made it 3-1 Pittsburgh when she headed in a Jacqueline Fix corner kick at the 80:35 mark.
Virginia Commonwealth’s Leah Robinson cut the lead to 3-2 in the 83rd minute when she finished on a pass from Gardsjord but Pittsburgh kept the Rams scoreless over the final seven minutes to secure the victory.
The score remained tied at 0-0 at halftime despite a 10-0 Virginia Commonwealth edge in shots. Pittsburgh goalkeeper Jamie Pelusi kept the Panthers in the game as she made eight first half saves including several difficult stops. Pelusi finished the day with 12 saves.
Even though Pittsburgh was outshot 18-5 in the game, Pittsburgh’s second half scoring opportunities were numerous including five corner kicks.
Pittsburgh is next in action next Friday as it hosts Ohio at 7 p.m. at Founders Field. The Panthers conclude their season on Sunday against Syracuse at Founders Field at 1 p.m.
GOALS BY PERIOD
(1) (2) F
Virginia Commonwealth 0 2 2
Pittsburgh 0 3 3
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