BRADFORD, Pa. -- It took a second overtime period, but Thiel defeated the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's soccer team, 2-1, in its home opener Monday.
"It was a sloppy game all around," Head Coach Nathan Whitehurst said. "We did well to come back after being down 1-0. We had some good chances at the end of regulation, but couldn't take advantage. Thiel did well to finish their chance in overtime."
With the defeat, the Panthers fall to 1-2 on the season.
After a quiet first half, Thiel gained the advantage with an own goal in the 66th minutes.
Off a corner kick cross, a Panther clear attempt made its way into the netting for the first goal of the game.
But Pitt-Bradford eventually tied it six minutes later.
A Pitt-Bradford corner kick from Ryuta Hayakawa found Ugwunna Amadi, who fired on goal, but found Dakotah Graham's foot.
Graham then knocked the equalizer past the keeper to even the score at 1-1.
Hungry for their second-straight victory, the Panthers clawed for the game-winner late in regulation.
In the 87th minute, Amadi went on the break with a defender on his right hip.
With the keeper stepping forward, he flipped the ball over his head toward the net high in the air, but the keeper recovered and punched it high, saving the game.
And later in the closing seconds of regulation, Hayakawa juked several defenders and made his way into the box, cutting toward the left post. He then put a touch on the ball and sent it toward the net as time expired. But once again, the keeper made a game-preserving save.
Pitt-Bradford pressed in the first overtime, firing the only three shots of the period, but came up short.
But in the second overtime period, Thiel found its game winner on a header, securing the victory.
An even match, the Panthers outshot Thiel 15-12, and both teams put an even number of shots on goal with seven apiece.
Derrick Brock started in goal for the Panthers and made five saves.
Hayakawa led the team with four shots, while Collin Irwin had three shot attempts. Amadi shot twice, and T.J. Magro, Noah Black, Alex Lincoln, Chase Rider and Hunter Pennypacker had a shot each to round out the Panther attempts.
Up next, the Panthers will head to Allegheny Wednesday for a road contest.
