Pitt
Pennsylvania
Women's Soccer Tops Penn 3-1 in Home Opener
9/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 5, 2008
INDIANOLA, Pa.—The Pitt women’s soccer team scored two unanswered second half goals to defeat Penn 3-1 on Friday night at Founders Field. The victory marked the ninth consecutive home opening win for the Panthers. Pitt upped its record to 2-2-0 while Penn fell to 0-1-0.
“I’m really pleased to come out in the first home game and get a win against a good team,” Pitt Head Coach Sue-Moy Chin said. “That’s exactly what we wanted to do.”
A goal by Katelyn Ruhe in the 33rd minute gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Ruhe dribbled 20 yards after collecting a breakaway through ball from Ashley Habbel for the score. Goalie Morie Kephart also assisted on the play.
Penn’s Ursula Lopez-Palm netted a goal in the 50th minute to tie the score at 1-1.
Just four minutes later, Pitt forward Ashley Habbel fired a shot in the net after taking advantage of a bobbled ball. The goal proved to be the game winner. Ruhe assisted on the play.
Jennifer Kritch cemented the Pitt victory after she fired a shot into the goal’s left corner in the 86th minute. Kritch placed the ball into the back of the net following an assist by Christina Nicassio.
The Pitt defense held off any chance of a Penn comeback. Kephart led the solid backfield performance with a total of seven saves.
With her total of three points on the evening, Habbel moved into a tie for second place on Pitt’s all-time career points list with 34. Cande Ruiz (1998-2001) ranks atop of the career point list with 47 total. Habbel is tied for second with Netta Agredano (2000-03) with 34. Habbel, who scored her 14th career goal, also needs just five more goals to surpass Cande Ruiz (18 from 1998-2001) as the Panthers’ leading all-time goal scorer.
With her goal, Kritch moved into a tie for third place on Pitt’s career goals list with her 12th. She also ranks tied for third on the all-time career points list with 31.
Pitt is back in action as it returns to Founders Field to play Charlotte this Sunday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
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