Erie, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's soccer team faced a tough road challenge on Wednesday evening as they traveled to Erie to face Penn State-Behrend, the third-ranked team in the region. The Panthers fell behind early and lost 10-0.
The Hosts began attacking from the opening whistle and took the lead in the 3rd minute on their first shot on target. They earned three more corners before doubling their advantage in the 13th. Starting goalkeeper Mackenzie Harmon made her first save in the 23rd, but could not keep the deficit from growing for long as the hosts scored in the 26th and once more in the 34th. The Lions tacked on three more goals over the final 10 minutes of the half, including one with 36 seconds until the break.
Maddison Coe took over in the Panther goal after halftime but allowed a goal in the 53rd which extended the deficit to 8. The Panthers took their first shot of the game in the 63rd minute. Mya King sent a cross into the box from the left flank after a throw-in. Her cross was headed back across the box, and she was able to find the loose ball. She took a quick shot but saw her effort sail just over the frame for a goal kick. The momentum did not stay with the Panthers, as the hosts quickly countered and scored two more goals in 5 minutes. The Panthers had one more opportunity to score in the 77th minute. King held possession in the Lion end and was fouled by the Penn State-BEhrend defense, resulting in a free kick from approximately 25 yards. King took the free kick, beating the wall with a shot to the near side, but could not get her effort to do under the bar, as it hit the crossbar and was cleared, ending the chance. Coe made 4 saves in the last 17 minutes to keep the final deficit from growing.
The Panther offense struggled to gain a foothold in the game, and Pitt-Bradford could only muster two shots. Both were taken by Mya King with the first sailing high and the second hitting the bar. Maddison Coe was credited with 5 saves in 45 minutes of action. Mackenzie Harmon plated the other 45 and made a pair of stops.
The Panthers drop to 5-4-1 overall with an 0-3-1 mark in AMCC play. They will return to action on Saturday in a crucial AMCC matchup against La Roche, beginning at 4:00 p.m.