#2 Pitt Edges Orange in 2OT

Tuesday, October 6

7 PM

Syracuse University

0-1-0, 0-1-0

Pittsburgh

2-0-0, 1-0-0

Pittsburgh

Syracuse

10/6/2020 11:22:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – No. 2 Pittsburgh scored in the 104th minute to get past Syracuse men's soccer, 3-2, in the Orange's season opener at the SU Soccer Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The 'Cuse came back to tie the game twice in the second half but couldn't get the go-ahead goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Pittsburgh (2-0, 2-0) led 1-0 at halftime and was the more dangerous team to start the second half, but Syracuse (0-1, 0-1) fought back and nearly tied the game in the 56th minute. With Pitt goalkeeper Niko Campuzano out of net, freshman Jeorgio Kocevski rifled a shot toward the goal, but a Panther defender was there to knock the ball away.

The Orange didn't miss on their chance in the 66th minute when Kocevski served the ball into the box toward the far post where junior Hilli Goldhar scored on a header to even the score at 1-1. Pittsburgh regained the lead in the 72nd minute when Veljko Petkovic found the back of the net for his second goal of the night.

Syracuse answered less than a minute later when sophomore Noah Singelmann put his shot in the left corner of the net off an assist from senior Sondre Norheim to again tie things up at 2-2.

It remained that way until the second overtime session. Syracuse played the majority of both extra periods a man down after a second yellow card was issued to Luther Archimede. Despite having just 10 players on the field, the Orange held off the Panthers until the 104th minute when Bertin Jacquesson recorded the golden goal to give Pittsburgh the victory.

The first half featured back-and-forth action as both teams played the field well. Each team generated scoring chances as both squads got off four shots. The Orange's best scoring opportunity came in the 18th minute when Archimede put his shot from the left side of the box on target, but Campuzano made the stop. The ball ricocheted of Campuzano back to Archimede, who headed the ball just outside the post.

Pittsburgh broke through in the 39th minute when Jacquesson brought the ball down the right side and served the ball into the box, where he connected with Petkovic, who was making a run at goal. Petkovic put his shot in the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

UP NEXT
Syracuse goes on the road to take on Notre Dame in South Bend on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m.