PITTSBURGH – The Towson University women's soccer team put together a valiant effort against No. 20 Pittsburgh, but fell to the Panthers 2-0 on the road.
 
Towson (4-2-2) held Pittsburgh (7-1) scoreless through the opening 64 minutes plus outshot the Panthers in the second half 13-9.  Pitt broke through with a goal in the 65^th minute and got insurance on a penalty kick score in minute 78 for the victory.
 
Key Stats:

• Total in the game, Pittsburgh outshot Towson 28-16, having an edge with shots on goal 7-4.
• Phoebe Canoles and Jasmine Hamid each had five shots for Towson while Nia Christopher added three, putting two on cage.
• In goal, Riley Melendez (4-2-2) got the loss despite having five saves, allowing two late goals.
• For Pittsburgh, Sarah Schpansky scored each goal, totaling nine shots.  Goalkeeper Katherine Robinson (5-1) picked up the win with four saves in the shutout.

Postgame Quote:

• Towson head coach Katherine Vettori: "Very proud of the team's performance against a talented Pitt team.  We weathered the storm in the first half with Pitt's speed, and in the second half we settled down and had very strong play, only unfortunate to have the goal on a non-clearance.  I'm proud of the fight to the very end, and kudos to Riley Melendez for having a great game in goal."

How It Happened:

• Pittsburgh was the early aggressive team, routinely looking for the long shot chance.  The Panthers got three shots in a span of 100 seconds through the eighth minute, with all missing wide.
• Towson kept holding off Pittsburgh with strong defense.  In minute 23, Leah Pais aimed for the left corner, with Riley Melendez making the save.
• 10 minutes later, another attempt to the bottom left, this time by Ellie Coffield, was saved again by Melendez.  Towson responded with a strong push in the 36^th minute as Nia Christopher got off a shot that was saved, with a second attempt by Jenna Blank also being saved by Katherine Robinson.
• Melendez made another save in the final minutes of the half as Towson and Pittsburgh went into the break tied at zero.
• Towson's attack line got moving in the opening minutes of the second as the Tigers got off four early shots, including three in a 30-second span in the 52^nd minute.  All were blocked as the Tigers looked to take the advantage.
• Minutes later, Jasmine Hamid got an attempt on goal, being saved by Robinson.  Pittsburgh went the other way and got off three shots from Sarah Schupansky in a matter of minutes, all going wide, but in the 65^th minute, a series of passes from Anna Bout and Coffield to Schupansky resulted in a goal to make it 1-0 Pittsburgh.
• Towson looked to regroup as Phoebe Canoles and Christopher each had chances towards the 71^st minute, but neither could connect.  Another attempt by Canoles minutes later missed wide.
• Melendez got a save off a shot from Chantelle Parker in the 78^th minute, but a later foul set up a Pittsburgh penalty kick.  Schupansky converted to make it 2-0 Panthers.
• Canoles tried to get Towson on the board with a couple of long range shots, missing on cage twice.  Towson's last effort came on an 88^th minute corner kick and a final shot attempt by Hamid, but the Tigers could not score and fell 2-0.

Inside the Numbers:

• Towson held a Pittsburgh team that averaged nearly four goals a game to two.
• The Tigers' four-game unbeaten streak was snapped with today's result.

Next Game:

• Towson's final non-conference game will be in a week as the Tigers hit the road to Delaware State on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m.

- TowsonTigers.com –