Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

After making a brilliant save on the previous play, Shea Vanderbosch prepared to face the ensuing Pitt corner kick in the 75th minute.

Sarah Schupansky, who led the Panthers in points entering into the matchup, sent the ball floating toward the front of the goal. Anticipating where it would land, Deborah Abiodun jumped forward and sent the ball toward Vanderbosch with a well-timed header. After making 12 saves up to that point, Vanderbosch finally ran out of magic. The ball sailed past her and into the goal as Pitt took a 1-0 lead which it wouldn’t surrender for the rest of the contest.

In its 3-0 loss at Pittsburgh (9-3-2, 3-2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), Syracuse (6-8-1, 0-7-0 ACC) struggled to generate an offense and had no answer for Pitt’s attack. In the final 15 minutes, the Panthers rattled off three consecutive goals and by full time outshot the Orange 37-3, the largest difference SU has had this season.

In just the first minute, the Panthers threatened with back-to-back corner kicks. But SU’s backline held strong, blocking each shot and allowing Vanderbosch to regain possession.

Although, when the Syracuse backline did manage to get possession of the ball it did not last long. Pitt’s aggressive press, especially from its top scorers Schupansky and Samiah Phiri, made it difficult for the Orange to connect clean passes in their own territory. This resulted in a flurry of chances for the Panthers that forced Vanderbosch to make key saves.

In the seventh minute, Phiri carved her way into the center of SU’s end. But as she prepared to shoot, Phiri was tripped up by Kate Murphy from behind. Schupansky took the free kick for the Panthers, Syracuse’s wall of defenders blocked the attempt.

15 minutes into the contest, the Orange finally recorded their first shot. Speeding through the center of the midfield, Dalani Stephens fired a shot on net with open space, but it was easily handled by Ellie Breech. Breech would not face another SU shot on goal in the first half.

For the rest of the opening frame, the Orange continued to remain hemmed into their own end, unable to clear the ball out due to Pitt’s high pressure.

When SU eventually earned set pieces, inaccurate kicks often sent the ball out of bounds, giving the ball right back to the Panthers’ relentless offense. Pitt, who entered Sunday leading the ACC with 23.2 shots per game, finished the first half with a 12-1 advantage.

With possession in the left corner midway through the half, Abiodun slid the ball between Julia Dening’s legs and charged toward the net. Without any options in the middle, she shot from a tough angle that Vanderbosch punched away.

Minutes later, Pitt jumped right back on the attack through the middle of the field. With two defenders in front of her, Abiodun again led the charge. Seeing Schupansky in front of her, she chipped the ball to her teammate, who was now all alone with Vanderbosch. But SU’s goalkeeper again was composed, this time diving forward to shut down the breakaway.

In the second half, the Panthers’ press refused to back down and kept giving the Orange fits in front of the goal and in the midfield.

After a failed clearance by SU’s backline, Lucia Wells recollected the ball and sent a point blank strike to the top corner of the net that nearly beat Vanderbosch if she hadn’t jumped upward to get her fingertips on it.

In the 55th minute, the Orange earned their first and only corner attempt of the afternoon, and were just inches away from capitalizing on it.

Erin Flurey took the corner for SU, sending the ball right on the money to Anna Croyle who was planted in front of the six-yard box. She got her head to it, but sent the ball just over the crossbar.

For the Orange, the majority of the second half seemed to mirror the first. Still unable to maintain possession offensively, Syracuse was stuck trying to contain the set pieces created by Wells, Abiodun and Schupansky. It was only a matter of time before the Panthers broke through for the opening tally.

On its 13th corner of the day, Abiodun’s header found the back of the net to give Pitt the 1-0 lead in the 75th minute. Vita Naihin nearly drew the Orange even moments later, but her redirection attempt missed the goal.

Just when SU’s offense was beginning to look threatening, Pitt reclaimed the game’s momentum with another goal by Abiodun. Ellie Coffield brought the lead to 3-0 five minutes later as the Panthers cruised to their third ACC victory of 2024. Meanwhile, the Orange are still yet to defeat a conference opponent this season.

Published on October 13, 2024 at 5:33 pm

Contact Matthew: mgray06@syr.edu