Salamanca, N.Y. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's soccer team jumped out to a 3-1 lead in their match with Alfred State on Tuesday evening but were unable to hold off a charge from the Pioneers, who eventually won the game 5-3.
Spencer Sklar opened the scoring for the Panthers in the 6th minute. Devin Stowe was able to find enough room for a cross into the box from the left wing. His long ball found Sklar on the far post who used a one-time volley to fire the ball into the net.
The Panthers used a counterattack to set up their second goal in the 17th minute. Bailee Verdill was able to get off a shot in the Pioneer box and saw his effort parried away for a corner kick. On the resulting corner, Verdill was able to win the ball in the air and head a shot into the top right corner of the goal. It was his first collegiate goal.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 23rd minute, but the Panthers were able to respond four minutes later. Jaden Nye was fouled just outside the Alfred State penalty area, setting up a free kick outside of the box. Will Smith stepped up and curved a shot around the wall and into the corner of the net, putting Pitt-Bradford up 3-1. The tally was Smith's 4th goal from a free kick this season. With under a minute to go in the first half, Alfred State was able to take advantage of a mishandled throw-in, tapping a shot into the open net to send the game to the break with the Panthers up 3-2.
With a small lead in the second half, the Panthers were under almost constant pressure from the Pioneers. Evan Schmidt kept the Panthers ahead with three early saves in the half. The visitors finally broke through in the 68th minute and were able to go in front with another goal six minutes later. Schmidt made several more saves to keep the deficit at one goal, but the Pioneers took advantage of a Panther turnover in their own half to add another goal to their lead in the 86th.
The Panthers scored three goals in the game, the most they have scored in a contest this season. Spencer Sklar netted his first of the season, while freshman Bailee Verdill opened his collegiate account with his first. Will Smith scored his 4th of the year and also added an assist. Devin Stowe also had an assist in the game. Evan Schmidt made 14 saves in the Panther goal, tying his career high.
Pitt-Bradford drops to 0-8-1 with the loss, including a 0-2 record in AMCC play. They will be back in action this Saturday when they host Carlow at Parkway Field in Bradford. The game is set to begin at 4:15 p.m.
