Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Women's Soccer team returned to Rathburn Family Field on Tuesday, looking to pick up their first win in AMCC play against Alfred State. After a difficult three minutes to start the second half that saw a 2-goal lead turn into a 3-2 deficit, the Panthers were able to score late and earn a draw.
The contest got off to an exciting start, as both teams were able to carve out scoring chances early. Mackenzie Harmon made a save after just 70 seconds and Mya King put a shot on target in the 12h minute as both teams used quick transitions to attack the opponents' goal. Harmon made 5 more saves and saw a shot hit the woodwork before King was able to open the score in the 31st. Gianna Gomez found King on the left flank with a throw-in and then King took over, creating a goal for herself. After driving down the wing, she cut back and moved into the middle of the field. King dribbled through a pair of tackles and then released a curling shot from outside the 18-yard box that found the side netting for the opener.
With 5 minutes to go, the Panthers doubled their lead. King took a sharp-angle shot from the left side that was parried away for a corner kick. King took the subsequent corner and hit a cross into a dangerous area in the box. Kimberly Goodwin was able to hit a one-time shot to the goal, only to see her effort stopped in the Pioneer goal. The rebound fell right to Lauren Donnelly, who swept a shot into the net for the 2nd goal. The score was Donnelly's 4th of the year. Goodwin received an assist on the play. Harmon made one final save in the last minute to send the game to the break with the Panthers up 2-0.
The Panthers came out of the halftime break sluggishly, and the Pioneers pounced on the opportunity, scoring 3 times in under 3 minutes to move into the lead. The Panthers gifted the Pioneers the first goal, as a turnover in the defensive third was followed by a soft shot that was mishandled and slipped into the goal. The second tally came on a pullback pass from the right wing and the go-ahead goal was scored from a free kick just outside the 18.
Pitt-Bradford was able to settle down and regain control after the third. Avery Yard put the Panthers back on the attack with a long solo run but saw her shot slide past the post. King added a few more shots to continue pressing for a tying goal before Harmon made a huge save to keep the deficit at one. A pioneer attacker hit a looping shot toward the goal that Harmon was able to deflect onto the crossbar to keep the ball out of the net. She was rewarded in the 74th minute when the Panthers tied the game at 3.
King received the ball on the right flank and dribbled into the box. Before she could release a pass, she was fouled inside the 18, giving Pitt-Bradford a penalty kick. King stepped up to the spot after the foul and slid a shot into the corner, evening the match at 3. The Panthers had a chance to win it in the 85th minute. After a free kick, Avery Benzel skipped a header beyond the defense where she found Giannag Gomez on the break. Gomez neared the goal but her shot was blocked for a corner, which the Panthers could not convert into a goal.
Mya King scored 2 goals in the game, her 11th and 12th of the season. She totaled 7 shots in the game, with 5 of them finishing on frame. Lauren Donnelly also scored for the Panthers, her 4th of the season. Kimberly Goodwin had one shot on goal and assisted Donnelly's goal. Mackenzie Harmon made 11 saves for the Panthers.
Pitt-Bradford is now 5-2-2 on the season with a 0-1-1 record in AMCC play. They will look to get back into the win column on Saturday when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on Carlow at Highmark Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.