BRADFORD, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's soccer team earned its fourth shutout win in five games as it captured a 1-0 overtime victory Tuesday evening against Saint Vincent at the Kessel Athletics Complex.
Just 47 seconds into overtime, Kaitlyn Williams received a long through ball from Abby Celesky that got past the Bearcats' defense, and she beat the charging keeper low to give Pitt-Bradford the 1-0 win.
"We first came out a little flat and didn't play our game, but we turned it around in the second half and just couldn't find the back of the net," Head Coach Melissa Lincoln said. "I told them I wanted them to come out and put it away right at the start of OT, and they did exactly that. "It was a great ball in and Kaitlyn maintained composure and put it away, exactly how we wanted it to go."
The two teams struggled to generate much offense in the first half, as both defenses kept the ball out of their respective scoring areas.
Pitt-Bradford fired seven shots in the half and put three on net, many coming as long strikes from outside the box.
But late in the second half, with the scoreless tie still intact, the Panthers pressed in search of the back of the net.
Pitt-Bradford's best chance came with 13 minutes to go in regulation when Grace Dadzaa created space in close and fired at point-blank range, but the Saint Vincent keeper got both hands on the ball and corralled it.
In total, the Pitt-Bradford offense forced the Bearcats' keeper to make four saves in the final 13 minutes of regulation.
However, neither team was able to find the back of the net in regulation and the two teams went into overtime.
And just after the start, the Panthers gained possession, and Celesky put the ball perfectly in position for Williams to finish, and she did just that.
The game-winning goal was Williams' first of the season.
On the day, the Panthers fired 22 total shots, their most of the season.
13 of the 22 shots went on goal. Dadzaa, Williams, Courtney Shade and Meghan Thomas put three apiece on goal, while Delaney Houtz tested the keeper once.
In earning her fourth clean sheet of the season, Sarah Dailey saved all four shots on goal, facing seven total.
Pitt-Bradford will be in action next on Saturday as Penn State-Altoona comes to the Kessel Athletics Complex for the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opener. Pitt-Bradford's game will be the second of a doubleheader with the men's team. The women's game scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m.
