Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's soccer team returned to action on Saturday evening as they took on the Houghton Highlanders on Rathrburn Family Field. The Panthers struggled to slow the Highlanders early and lost the match 5-2.
The Panthers carved out the first chance of the game when Kyle Carlsen controlled a pass in the 8th minute and sent a long-distance shot over the bar. Houghton struck right back and went into the lead a minute later on a curled effort from the edge of the 18. Eight minutes later, they added another. The Panthers were undone by another well-placed through ball that led to a low cross and a one-time finish for the 2nd. The visitors added a third goal in the 25th minute on a corner. Pitt-Bradford failed to get a head to the cross and after it was flicked onwards, a Houghton attacker was able to nod a shot home to put the Highlanders up 3-0.
In the 36th, the Panthers struck back, getting on the board through Bailee Verdill. Following a free kick from their own end, Will Smith was able to poke the ball away from Houghton as they transitioned, right to Alex Stockton at the edge of the 18. Stockton took a touch and laid a pass behind the Houghton defense where Verdill was able to run onto it and finish to the far post. It was his second goal of the season.
The momentum would not stay with the Panthers for long, as the Highlanders scored right off the restart. A long, diagonal pass was not dealt with along the Panther line and resulted in a break. Houghton sent another cross into the box where it was met at the back post for their fourth of the game. With four minutes remaining in the half, the Highlanders scored the fifth. After a handball in the box on a corner, Houghton's attacker was able to put away the resulting penalty kick.
The Panthers resiliently battled back in the second half, carving out the majority of the scoring chances in the final 45. The first came in the 58th. Smith collected a pass 25 yards from goal and attempted a long shot. His effort was deflected and just finished on the roof of the net for a corner. The next chance came in the 71st minute. A long pass found Brady Hathaway down the right wing, who cut back and found Levent van Helden. outside the box. van Helden rolled a pass to Yiaho Xu, who released a curling right-footed effort that landed on top of the goal again.
Xu had another chance minutes later. A goal kick was intercepted by Stockton, who headed a pass to Xu between the center backs. The freshman attacker took a touch and tried to beat an onrushing goalkeeper, who got just enough on the shot to push the effort wide of the net. Verdill was able to get a head on the resulting corner, but his effort missed the net.
In the 76th minute, Hathaway took a quick restart after a foul and sent a pass to Kyle Carlsen in the box. Carlsen was running onto the pass when he was wiped out by a Thiel defender, giving the Panthers a penalty kick of their own. Carlsen stepped up to take the penalty he drew and calmly sent a shot past the diving keeper for his first collegiate goal. The Panthers were unable to create any more chances over the final 15 minutes, bringing the game to an end.
Bailee Verdill led the Panther attack with a goal from open play on 3 shots. Alex Stockton had the assist. Kyle Carlsen scored from the penalty spot and also had one other shot. Yihao Xu was the only other Panther to put an effort on goal, finishing with 2 total shots. Troy VanSickle started in goal for the Panthers and made 6 saves. Michael Riedel played the final 23 minutes and made a pair of saves without conceding.
The loss drops the Panthers to 0-4 on the year. They will be on the road for a pair of games next week. They will head to Williamsport on Tuesday to take on Penn College, with kickoff slated for 5:00 p.m.
