Fredonia, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's soccer team traveled to Fredonia, N.Y. on Friday night to take on the Blue Devils in a non-conference tilt. The Panthers clawed back two late goals but ultimately fell 5-2.
The Panthers got off to a slow start, as the hosts forced starting keeper Jared Scarlett into an opening-minute save, and then opened the scoring in the 5th minute. They continued their assault after the goal, putting 5 more shots on goal before the Panthers were able to put one on target through Devin Stowe. The Hosts doubled their lead in the 27th minute and eventually added a third in the 39th. Scarlett made 4 more saves in the half and was aided by a defender in the 28th as an attempt was cleared off the line.
Pitt-Bradford started the second stanza as sluggish as they did the first, allowing two more quick goals within two and a half minutes. The Panthers settled down after the 5th, as they kept their hosts off the board for the final 42 minutes. They were able to get one goal back in the 68th minute on a free kick. Bailee Verdill settled a throw-in down the left wing and then was fouled by a Fredonia defender tracking back into a double team. Defender Will Smith stepped up to take the resulting free kick and whipped in a curled shot. His effort caught the Fredonia keeper out of the goal, looping over his outstretched arm and into the net. The goal was Smith's third of the season.
The Panthers grew confident after the goal, as they were able to spend more time in the opponent's end. Verdill and Stowe both forced saves out of the Blue Devil keeper, before Pitt-Bradford added their second goal in the 85th minute. After the Panthers repelled a Fredonia attack, Spencer Sklar took possession of the ball just inside his own half, he made a long dribbling run into the Fredonia end, cutting in between the final two defenders when he was tripped up before getting a shot off, giving the Panthers a penalty kick. Devin Stowe stepped up to take the penalty and put it away for his second of the season.
Devin Stowe finished the game with 4 shots, all of them on goal, including the penalty shot which he scored. Will Smith scored the other Panther goal, his third from a free-kick this season. Bailee Verdill took 2 shots, with one on target and Spencer Sklar added another. Jared Scarlett made 15 saves in the loss.
The Panthers fall to 0-5-1 on the season. They will be back in action on Tuesday night when they host Bryant and Stratton-Rochester in Salamanca. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. at Veteran's Memorial Field.
