Tuesday, October 23
Morgantown, W.Va.
7:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
11-5
2
vs
1
Pitt
7-9
1
2
F
Pitt
0
1
1
West Virginia
1
1
2
Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Mountaineers Beat Pitt, 2-1
October 23, 2018 10:26 PM | Men's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men's soccer team beat Pitt, 2-1, to extend its win streak to three matches on Tuesday night at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium.
The Mountaineers (11-5-0) improved to 34-10-5 all-time against the Panthers (7-9) and remain undefeated in the series at home since 1997. WVU has won nine of its last 11 matches and is unbeaten in 17 of its last 21 contests in Morgantown. With tonight's victory, West Virginia also improved to 11-0 this year and 18-0 in the last three seasons when scoring two or more goals.
WVU's goals came from freshman midfielder Josh DiMatteo, in the 16th minute, and senior midfielder Joey Piatczyc, in the 49th. Piatczyc's two game-winning points gives him 19 in his career, tied for sixth-most in program history. Piatczyc also earned an assist on DiMatteo's goal, his 31st career assist to extend his school-record mark.
"I thought we were the better team, especially in the second half," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "I thought we were really good on the night, and we're starting to hit our stride a little bit. We told our guys at halftime that if we don't concede, we win the game. We got the second goal, and now it is really hard for Pitt, and they'll have to stretch themselves. I was disappointed we gave away the goal, but I was really proud of the way we responded after conceding it. We put more pressure on them and created more chances. We really shut it down, and that's hopefully the sign of a championship team. We get to play for a championship Friday night."
West Virginia took a 1-0 lead at 15:40. From near midfield, Piatczyc sent the ball up to sophomore forward Tsubasa Takada along the sideline, 20 yards out. Takada then centered the ball to DiMatteo, who was waiting at the top of the box and beat the keeper to the left. The goal was the third of the season for the Pittsburgh native.
The Mountaineers extended their lead to 2-0 early in the second half, at 48:41, thanks to beautifully-placed free kick by Piatczyc. From 25 yards out, Piatczyc beat a diving keeper into the top-right corner.
Pitt cut into WVU's lead with a goal at 49:11 by Alexander Dexter, but the visiting side could not get any closer. It was the Panthers' lone shot on goal in the contest.
WVU out-shot Pitt, 15-4, and held a 5-1 advantage in shots on goal. UP had 23 fouls to WVU's 11, and the Panthers had a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Piatczyc led the team with five shots, while DiMatteo had two shots, both on goal.
The lone shot in the match prior to DiMatteo's goal came in the third minute, on a header wide by Pitt. While both teams had offensive pressure, each squad was called for two offsides in the opening 15 minutes.
Following WVU's goal, Pitt sent a shot wide in the 24th minute for its only other shot in the opening 45 minutes. Junior defender Ryan Kellogg had an opportunity saved in the 27th minute, and Piatczyc had one blocked that resulted in a corner kick in the 40th.
The Mountaineers held a 3-2 edge in shots in the opening half before they recorded an 11-3 advantage after halftime.
Junior midfielder Andres Muriel Albino hit the post in the 47th minute, two minutes before Piatczyc's goal off a free kick. Thirty seconds later, Pitt cut the WVU lead in half. However, the Mountaineer defense held the Panthers to two shots, both wide, in the remaining 40 minutes of regulation.
Senior midfielder Jorge Quintanilla had a shot saved in the 54th minute, which came just before Piatczyc sent a chance wide. DiMatteo nearly made it 3-1 in the 81st minute, but UP's Johan Penaranda was there for his third and final save of the match.
With a regular-season conference championship at stake, the regular-season slate at home concludes vs. Bowling Green on Friday, Oct. 26. Tickets for the Senior Night matchup are available at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800 WVU GAME. It is Friday Night Happy Hour, from 6-7 p.m., with half-off beverages, and the first 100 fans will receive a WVU men's soccer seat cushion. Prior to the contest, the Mountaineers will honor their seniors.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The Mountaineers (11-5-0) improved to 34-10-5 all-time against the Panthers (7-9) and remain undefeated in the series at home since 1997. WVU has won nine of its last 11 matches and is unbeaten in 17 of its last 21 contests in Morgantown. With tonight's victory, West Virginia also improved to 11-0 this year and 18-0 in the last three seasons when scoring two or more goals.
WVU's goals came from freshman midfielder Josh DiMatteo, in the 16th minute, and senior midfielder Joey Piatczyc, in the 49th. Piatczyc's two game-winning points gives him 19 in his career, tied for sixth-most in program history. Piatczyc also earned an assist on DiMatteo's goal, his 31st career assist to extend his school-record mark.
"I thought we were the better team, especially in the second half," WVU coach Marlon LeBlanc said. "I thought we were really good on the night, and we're starting to hit our stride a little bit. We told our guys at halftime that if we don't concede, we win the game. We got the second goal, and now it is really hard for Pitt, and they'll have to stretch themselves. I was disappointed we gave away the goal, but I was really proud of the way we responded after conceding it. We put more pressure on them and created more chances. We really shut it down, and that's hopefully the sign of a championship team. We get to play for a championship Friday night."
West Virginia took a 1-0 lead at 15:40. From near midfield, Piatczyc sent the ball up to sophomore forward Tsubasa Takada along the sideline, 20 yards out. Takada then centered the ball to DiMatteo, who was waiting at the top of the box and beat the keeper to the left. The goal was the third of the season for the Pittsburgh native.
The Mountaineers extended their lead to 2-0 early in the second half, at 48:41, thanks to beautifully-placed free kick by Piatczyc. From 25 yards out, Piatczyc beat a diving keeper into the top-right corner.
Pitt cut into WVU's lead with a goal at 49:11 by Alexander Dexter, but the visiting side could not get any closer. It was the Panthers' lone shot on goal in the contest.
WVU out-shot Pitt, 15-4, and held a 5-1 advantage in shots on goal. UP had 23 fouls to WVU's 11, and the Panthers had a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Piatczyc led the team with five shots, while DiMatteo had two shots, both on goal.
The lone shot in the match prior to DiMatteo's goal came in the third minute, on a header wide by Pitt. While both teams had offensive pressure, each squad was called for two offsides in the opening 15 minutes.
Following WVU's goal, Pitt sent a shot wide in the 24th minute for its only other shot in the opening 45 minutes. Junior defender Ryan Kellogg had an opportunity saved in the 27th minute, and Piatczyc had one blocked that resulted in a corner kick in the 40th.
The Mountaineers held a 3-2 edge in shots in the opening half before they recorded an 11-3 advantage after halftime.
Junior midfielder Andres Muriel Albino hit the post in the 47th minute, two minutes before Piatczyc's goal off a free kick. Thirty seconds later, Pitt cut the WVU lead in half. However, the Mountaineer defense held the Panthers to two shots, both wide, in the remaining 40 minutes of regulation.
Senior midfielder Jorge Quintanilla had a shot saved in the 54th minute, which came just before Piatczyc sent a chance wide. DiMatteo nearly made it 3-1 in the 81st minute, but UP's Johan Penaranda was there for his third and final save of the match.
With a regular-season conference championship at stake, the regular-season slate at home concludes vs. Bowling Green on Friday, Oct. 26. Tickets for the Senior Night matchup are available at WVUGAME.com or by calling 1-800 WVU GAME. It is Friday Night Happy Hour, from 6-7 p.m., with half-off beverages, and the first 100 fans will receive a WVU men's soccer seat cushion. Prior to the contest, the Mountaineers will honor their seniors.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Team Stats
UP
WVU
Goals
1
2
Shots
5
14
Shots on Goal
1
5
Saves
3
0
Corners
4
3
Fouls
23
11
Scoring Plays
Josh DiMatteo (3)
Assisted By: Tsubasa Takada , Joey Piatczyc
took ball inside box, beat keeper left
15:40
Joey Piatczyc (5)
beat diving keeper right off free kick f
48:41
Alexander Dexter (2)
Assisted By: Rodrigo Almeida
received ball just outside box, curling
49:11
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerF
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