BOX SCORE
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Edward Kizza bookended the scoring with the match’s first goal in the 10th minute and game-winner in the 102nd minute to propel the Pitt Panthers past the Clemson men’s soccer team, 2-1, in double overtime on Friday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field. With the loss, Clemson moved to 5-5-1 overall and 0-4-0 in the ACC, while Pitt improved to 6-5-0 overall and 2-3-0 in conference play.
Clemson had a good opportunity early in the game, when Adrian Nuñez took a close range shot and forced Pitt keeper Johan Penaranda to make a nice save in the third minute. But it was Pitt that got on the board first, seven minutes later, on an Edward Kizza shot from 16 yards out that slipped over an outstretched George Marks, who saw action in goal for Clemson.
In the 38th minute, the Tigers tied it up when Charlie Asensio found Quinn McNeill with a cross from the left side to the front of the goal, and McNeill capitalized with his second goal of the year. The two teams went into the break knotted at 1-1.
Robbie Robinson opened the second half with a shot through traffic that deflected off the post, and another good Clemson chance came in the 70th minute in the form of an Andrew Burnikel header off a corner kick went just high. Marks made two saves in the 78th and 80th minutes to keep the score tied, and a Kizza shot in the 82nd minute sailed high, leaving the score reading 1-1 at the end of regulation.
The first overtime period was uneventful, as neither team got a shot off. However, Kizza did not wait long into the second overtime period to end it, netting his second goal of the night and eighth of the season in the 102nd minute to give Pitt the win.
“There wasn’t much between the two teams tonight,” head coach Mike Noonan said. “It was a hard-fought ACC match, where away points are very tough. Congrats to Pittsburgh…they showed great character in the second half and overtime that we did not match. We paid the price again tonight for not taking care of little things that determine outcomes.”
Clemson has a weeklong break before its next action, a matchup with No. 10 Virginia on Friday, Oct. 12 at Historic Riggs Field. Kickoff against the Cavaliers is slated for 7 p.m.
