Salamanca, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's soccer team hosted Bryant & Stratton Rochester on Tuesday night, falling to the Bobcats 5-1.
The visitors went on the attack early in the match, earning two corner kicks within the first four minutes. They took advantage of the second corner, heading in the opening goal just after the four-minute mark. It did not take long to double their lead, as they put a through pass behind the Panther defense that led to a breakaway and the second goal just over three minutes later.
In the 22nd minute, the Panthers pulled a goal back. Bailee Verdill controlled the ball just over the half line and played a pass behind the defense for Spencer Sklar. Sklar was able to beat the Bobcat defender to the ball to go on the break. In another race to a loose ball, Sklar was the first to it again, poking the ball around the oncoming goalkeeper. The Bobcat keeper took Sklar out, resulting in a penalty kick. Devin Stowe stepped up and calmly put his shot past the keeper to cut the lead in half. The goal was Stowe's third of the year.
The Panthers held off the Bobcats for another 18 minutes but saw the two-goal deficit restored as the Bobcats controlled a loose ball near the edge of the box and chipped a shot over Jared Scarlett in goal.
After the break, Pitt-Bradford kept the Bobcats from adding to their lead early but saw another rebounded shot collected and chipped into the goal for the 4th goal. The Panthers' best chance to score in the 2nd half came in the 67th minute. Sklar used his pace to beat another Bryant & Stratton defender down the right wing, and then dribbled around a second defender as he approached the end line. He hit a low cross back into the box where Verdill was able to deflect it toward goal. His effort caught the Bobcat goalkeeper out of position but was headed off the line by a defender. The visitors retook momentum after the chance and added a 5th goal in the 82nd minute.
Devin Stowe converted another attempt from the penalty spot to score his third goal of the season. Will Smith led the Panthers with three shots, putting one of them on target. Conner Rudsell, Brady Hathaway, and Bailee Verdill also put shots on goal. Jared Scarlett stopped 7 shots and collected multiple through balls in the contest.
The Panthers fall to 0-6-1 on the season after the loss. They will be back in action on Sunday, September 24th, when they open up AMCC play with a matchup against Pitt-Greensburg. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Parkway Field in Bradford.
