Syracuse University
Pittsburgh
Stifling Defense Lifts Orange Past Pittsburgh
9/25/2008 9:29:37 PM | Women's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse posted its fourth straight shutout and recorded its first BIG EAST win of the season with a 1-0 victory against Pittsburgh at the SU Soccer Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 25. The Orange, which remains unbeaten at home, improves its record to 4-3-2 overall and 1-0-1 in BIG EAST play, while Pittsburgh goes to 3-7 overall, 0-2 in the BIG EAST.
The shutout was the fifth of the season for the Orange, which has not allowed a goal in its last 295:45 of play. It marks the first time Syracuse has shutout four straight opponents since 1996, the program’s inaugural season. That year the Orange registered six consecutive shutouts and eight overall.
“This game shows us we can grind out wins,” said Syracuse head coach Phil Wheddon. “This wasn’t a particularly pretty game of soccer. We had to fight for it and we did that very well.”
Freshmen Amanda Morris and Taylor Chamberlain connected for the only goal Syracuse would need in the 72nd minute. Morris took the ball on the right side of the box off a free kick. Pittsburgh goalkeeper Morie Kephart came out to play Morris, who passed the ball to Chamberlain coming in on the left side of the box. Chamberlain beat a Panthers’ defender to the ball and found the back of the net for her second goal of the season. For Morris, it was her first career assist.
Syracuse goalkeeper Eliza Bennett-Hattan made six saves and recorded her fourth shutout of the season, increasing her SU career-leading total to 16. Kephart finished with four saves for Pittsburgh.
The Panthers held an 8-7 advantage in shots, and had eight corner kicks to three for the Orange.
Syracuse faces its first ranked opponent of the season on Sunday when it travels to Morgantown, W. Va. to take on No. 14/15 West Virginia at 1 p.m.
