Delaware Falls 1-0 to Big East Foe Pittsburgh For Split Results at James Madison Tournament
Aug. 26, 2011
File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Boxscore
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HARRISONBURG, Va. – With both teams taking double-digit shots, it was the Pittsburgh Panthers who outlast the University of Delaware women's soccer team 1-0 on Sunday at the James Madison University/Fairfield Inn by Marriott Tournament. The Hens managed 15 shots while Pitt took 12.
With the result, Delaware split its games at the tournament, which was held at the JMU Soccer Complex, after defeating Stony Brook 3-0 on Friday evening. Pittsburgh also split its results at the tournament after suffering a lopsided 6-0 loss to host James Madison on Friday night.
This was the first time Delaware has played a team from the Big East since the 2009 season when it squared off at Villanova on Sept. 13.
Tania Domingos and Melissa Pennington, who scored a career-high two goals Friday evening in the shutout over Stony Brook, represented Delaware on the All-Tournament team. They were joined by Lauren Wilson Kate Courter, Sam Lofton and Elisa Davidson of the host school, which went 2-0 on the weekend with a 1-0 win over Stony Brook. The Seawolves saw Sa'sha Kershaw and Julianne Palm while Pittsburgh landed Katie Lippert, Katheryn Kunugi and Katie Ruhe on the team.
Junior forward Ali Miller led Delaware (1-2-0) offensively, taking four shots, including two of the Hens' three on goal. Leigh Victory (at right) took two shots had the other shot on goal.
Victory and Miller were two of the six Delaware players to take multiple shots. Taylor Thompson, Shannon Kearney, Allegra Gray and Domingos all took two attempts.
Domingos drew the game’s only yellow card in the 66th minute.
Blue Hen goalkeeper Breanna Stemler suffered the loss, but made five saves on the day. Pitt (1-2-1) split time between two keepers, with starter Kristina Rioux making one save and back up Nicole D'Agostino turning away two and getting the win.
Pitt found the back of the net in the 58th minute during a corner kick, followed by a header pass from Ali Matisse to Ashley Cuba, who poked the ball in for the eventual game-winner.
“Today was a game of opportunities lost,” said Delaware’s 22nd year head coach Scott Grzenda. “Defensively we shut them down all day except for the one corner. To have a goal called back and create chances, still isn’t enough unless it hits the back of the net. We will work on our composure this week as we prepare for Saint Joseph’s on Friday.
The Blue Hens found the back of the goal in the 63rd minute, but the Hen tally was waved off. Sophomore defender Dianna Marinaro sailed in a corner kick that beat D’Agostino, but the official, Jeff Davis, deemed the goalkeeper was obstructed.
The Hens travel to Philadelphia to meet the Hawks on Friday evening at Finnessy Field. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
With the clock winding down, Delaware peppered the Panther defense, taking five attempts over the course of the last four minutes of the game. Pitt defenders blocked three of those attempts, while another two sailed off the mark.
Delaware’s backs were active on offense as well, accounting for five of the team’s 15 shots. Along with Gray and Thompson, defender Laura Klebe chipped in one shot.
The Hens held a narrow 7-5 advantage in corner kicks, including three in the final two minutes of the match. Delaware outshot the Panthers 11-5 in the second stanza, while Pitt held a 7-4 shots advantage at the halftime break.
Pitt was called for nine fouls, while Delaware was whistled just four times, only one of which came in the first half.
