BRADFORD, Pa. -- Late-game heroics gave the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's soccer team a come-from-behind win, 3-2, over Juniata on hot, sunny Saturday afternoon at the Kessel Athletics Complex.
For the second straight game, Ryuta Hayakawa scored in the final 10 minutes of regulation. But this time, his goal stood as the game-winner.
Hayakawa's game-winning goal came as the finishing touch to Ugwunna Amadi's offensive efforts, eliminating a 2-0 deficit with a pair of goals to set the Panthers up for a chance at a victory.
"We played a great final 60 minutes of the game," Head Coach Nate Whitehurst said. "Ugwunna did a great job up top pressuring their backs and he was rewarded for it. And Ryuta had a heck of a touch and finish. He does really well in situations like that."
Juniata struck first just 11 minutes into the game, finishing on its first shot attempt of the game.
And just 11 minutes later, the Eagles found the back of the net on a free kick from about 25 yards out, taking an early 2-0 lead.
At the 32 minute mark, Amadi cut the deficit by one as he rose above the Juniata defense to receive a high pass from Steven McFetridge, and headed it into the top netting.
The 2-1 score would hold into the second half.
Pitt-Bradford keeper Derrick Brock was tested early in the half but never faltered, making five saves in the first 15 minutes of the half.
It was at the 71:08 mark that Amadi found the back of the net for a second time as he created space in close and fired a strike clean into the center of the net, tying the game.
The Panthers pressed, looking to avoid a second-straight overtime match.
In the 87th minute, McFetridge sent a through ball to Hayakawa in close, and with one touch toward the goal, the ball avoided the charging keeper and rolled into the net, giving the Panthers the 3-2 lead.
The Panthers survived the last three minutes, holding off a Juniata corner kick in the closing seconds.
Pitt-Bradford put six shots on goal, Amadi with three and Hayakawa with two. T.J. Magro tested the keeper once.
McFetridge assisted both goals.
Brock made six total saves.
The Panthers will be in action next as they travel to Alfred on Wednesday.
