CLEMSON, S.C. – On an afternoon where Clemson celebrated seniors Halle Mackiewicz, Makenna Morris and Megan Bornkamp, No. 8 Clemson outlasted No. 18 Pitt, 1-0, led by the three seniors. The win moves the Tigers to 13-1-3 on the year, 7-1-1 in ACC play, while the loss drops the Panthers to 12-4-1 and 5-2-1 in ACC play.
“To win on Senior Day, it’s just special and we have such a great group of kids, a wonderful group of seniors so the team was really determined to send them out on a winning note on Senior Day,” Head Coach Eddie Radwanski said. “This was a very good game, Pitt is an excellent team and we were fortunate enough to score the goal and get the win.”
Morris scored the lone goal of the match, her eighth of the year and fourth game-winner of the season. Mackiewicz was solid in goal, making five saves on the night and recording her 12th shutout of the season. Bornkamp was a steadying force on the field for the Tigers, putting pressure on Pitt early and keeping the Panthers off the board in the second.
Despite the match being scoreless at the end of the first half, the Tigers outshot the Panthers 7-2 with five of those shots being on target. The Panthers were awarded a single corner-kick, while the Tigers finished the half with five corners.
In the second half, Morris shone bright on Senior Day, as she found the back of the net to give Clemson the 1-0 advantage. In the 53rd minute, eight minutes into the second half, Renee Lyles was able to find an opening past the Pittsburgh defender to then pass the ball to graduate Caroline Conti. After receiving the pass, Conti was able to pass the ball through an empty gap in the middle of the 18-yard-box to find Morris in scoring position. Morris then launched the ball towards the net as it went just past the Panthers keeper on the right-hand side. Mackiewicz made four of her five saves in the second half to secure the shutout.
After earning her 12th shutout of the season against the Panthers, Mackiewicz officially tied the single-season record for clean sheets alongside Katie Carson (1998-01) as the keeper continues to make her mark in Clemson history this season.
“That is crazy for me to even think about but we are not done right now and as much as it is a great accomplishment, I’m very grateful for it but we got a lot of work to do so I’m more focused on what is ahead,” Mackiewicz said.
Clemson is the first team to shutout the Panthers this season as the Tigers are the first to leave Pittsburgh scoreless after two halves.
Up next, the No. 8 Clemson Tigers will head to South Bend, Ind. to take on No. 12 Notre Dame in their final match of the regular season. Kick-off is slated for 8 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
