No. 10 Panthers Fall at Home to Virginia, 3-1

Box Score PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh men’s soccer team (5-3-1, 2-2-0 ACC) fell at home Friday night to the Virginia Cavaliers (7-3-0, 3-1-0 ACC) by the score of 3-1. Valentin Noel netted the lone Pitt goal, his fourth of the season.
 
Virginia opened up the scoring just over a minute into the match as Philip Horton scored his third goal of the season after a scrum in front of the Pitt net.
 
After some back-and-forth play, Noel was able to break through with the game-tying goal in the 27^th minute as he beat the keeper to the lower right corner. Henrique Gallina collected the assist on Noel’s fourth goal of the season.
 
In the 38^th minute, Virginia earned a penalty kick as the Panthers committed a penalty in the box but Leo Afonso missed the ensuing shot to keep the game knotted, 1-1.
 
Over the final five minute of the opening half, Bertin Jacquesson and Mateo Maillefaud each had a scoring chance but their attempts were saved by the Virginia keeper.
 
The Cavaliers took the 2-1 lead in the 60^th minute as Reese Miller beat Joe van der Sar to the right lower corner with a low hard shot.
 
Noah Hall had a scoring chance in the 70^th minute but his shot was stopped by Holden Brown. Virginia countered and made the score 3-1 in the 72^nd minute as Philip Horton netted his second of the game to secure the win for the road squad.
 
The Panthers had three more shots down the stretch but weren’t able to bear Brown as they were handed the 3-1 defeat Friday night.
 
Pitt returns home Friday, Sept. 30 as they host Virginia for a 7:00 pm ACC contest at Ambrose Urbanic Field. Friday night’s match will air live on ACC Network Extra.
 
NOTES
*** Virginia improves to 8-4-2 all-time against the Panthers. The win marked the Cavaliers first win in the last six games against Pitt.
*** Pitt is now 28-4-2 at home over the last three years. The Panthers .838 win percentage ranks third in the ACC over the last three years.
*** Valentin Noel netted his fourth goal of the season and the 28^th of his career in the loss. He now has 67 career points which is tied for fourth place in program history.
*** Graduate transfer Henrique Gallina collected his first assist as a Panther on Noel’s goal.