Women's Soccer Kicks Off Big East Divisional Play
9/25/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Women's Soccer Kicks Off Big East Divisional Play
9/25/2000
The Pittsburgh women's soccer team kicked off Big East Conference (Mid-Atlantic Division) action this week, falling to Seton Hall (3-2) and No. 1 Notre Dame (1-0).
The Panthers traveled to Seton Hall on Sept. 22 for their conference season opener. Pittsburgh took an early lead on a goal by junior forward Cande Ruiz (Oxnard, Calif./Santa Clara) at 21:36, who took a through ball from redshirt freshman Annette Agredano (Tucson, Ariz./Tucson High Magnet) and beat Pirate keeper Leah Miller to the right post. The Pirates tied the game at 28:40 when Michele Phalen took a pass from Nattalie Smith on a breakaway and scored.
Brigid Sullivan set up the next goal for Seton Hall when she crossed her free kick to Frauke Dittel, who headed it in at 34:47, giving the Pirates a 2-1 lead at the half.
Seton Hall then took a 3-1 lead at 59:45 when Jocelyn Dumaresq converted on a penalty kick after Whitney Dula was taken down in the box by a Pittsburgh defender. The Panthers closed the margin when Ruiz tallied her second goal of the game off her own rebound at 64:35.
Pittsburgh outshot the Pirates, 19-18, while junior goalkeeper Rachel Brown (Brunley, England/St. Christopher's) made four saves primarily in the second half. Sophomore Gretchen Ross (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler Area) replaced Brown early in the first half when the starter injured her hand, and gave up two Seton Hall goals.
The Panthers then traveled to top-ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 24. Pittsburgh played primarily defense against the Irish and allowed just one goal on 27 Notre Dame shots, while attempting just one shot of its own.
Pittsburgh stayed in the game behind the steady play of Brown, who made 15 saves while thwarting several other Irish scoring chances.
Anne Makinen scored the game-winning goal for the Irish at 33:35, shooting the ball from the top of the box into the upper left corner of the net. She was assisted by Amy Warner.
Pittsburgh moves to 3-7 overall, 0-2 in Mid-Atlantic Division play. The Panthers return home to host Rutgers on Sept. 29 beginning at 4 p.m. at the Morton Sports Complex. Pittsburgh will also host Villanova on Sunday, Oct. 1 (Noon).
