Delaware to Play Pittsburgh and Duquesne in Pitt/Nike Invitational this Weekend
September 6, 2012
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The University of Delaware men’s soccer team will make a second-straight weekend road trip as the Blue Hens travel to to western Pennsylvania to tackle Duquesne and the University of Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh/Nike Invitational.
The defending Colonial Athletic Association Blue Hens (0-3) will open the tournament on Friday, Sept. 7 by taking on Duquesne (1-2) at 5 p.m. and will following with a Sunday, Sept. 9 matchup with host Pitt (1-0-2) at 2:30 p.m. All games will be played at the Ambrose Urbanic Field at Pitt’s Petersen Sports Complex.
“The players will be excited to play again this week against Big East opposition,” Delaware men’s soccer head coach Ian Hennessy stated. “We are still finding our stride at the moment and I think a good road win will help jump-start things.”
Delaware enters the tournament on the heels of a pair of losses to North Carolina State and host Duke last weekend at the John Rennie Nike Classic.
Mark Garrity and Ben Sampson (at right) were named to the all-tournament team while Joe Dipre scored his first collegiate goal in the tough 2-1 loss to Duke.
This weekend marks the first matches that Delaware has ever squared off against Duquesne and Pittsburgh in program history.
Duquesne enters the weekend riding a two-game losing streak after winning its season opener on Aug. 24 against Howard. Dukes head coach Jake Ouimet looks to build on a 7-9-2 record last season.
Returning All-Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection, senior forward Joshua Patterson, leads the Duke with two goals and one assist in three games. Patterson posted nine goals and three assists last season. Junior forward Simon Gomez, another all-conference selection, led the Dukes with eight assists and tied for most goals (9).
“Duquesne has a couple of talented players returning who were among the top scorers in a very competitive Atlantic 10 Conference last year,“ Hennessy said. “After a narrow loss to Penn State last week, this will be a tough game for us against the Dukes.”
Pittsburgh head coach Joe Luxbacher has led the Panthers to an undefeated record heading into the weekend invitational. The Panthers return 15 letterwinners and six starters from a squad that posted a 4-13-1 record last season.
Junior forward, Nico Worbel, returns as Pitt’s leading scoring with five goals and one assist in 18 games last season.
“In anticipation of moving to the ACC, Pitt has opened a brand new soccer stadium and like Duke, we are looking forward to another good environment to play in,” Hennessy added. “It should be a fun experience.”
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (0-3) is also part of the four-team tournament but the Blue Hens will not face the Mastadon.
Following the weekend set, the Blue Hens begin their home schedule when the Delaware tackles Navy on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at Delaware Mini Stadium.
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