Women’s Soccer Downed at No. 21 Pittsburgh

Sunday, August 27

Pittsburgh, Pa.

1 p.m.

Bucknell University

2-2-0, 0-0-0

Pittsburgh

4-0-0, 0-0-0

Bucknell

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Jon Lambert

8/27/2023 3:19:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – No. 21 Pittsburgh scored three first-half goals on the way to a 5-0 victory over visiting Bucknell on Sunday afternoon at Ambrose Urbanic Field. Now 2-2 on the season, the Bison dropped a road game to a nationally ranked side for the second time this week, coming on the heels of a 1-0 loss to No. 20 Georgetown on Thursday. Pitt, an NCAA Sweet Sixteen participant a year ago, improved to 4-0 in 2023.

Bucknell's defense held strong for 86 minutes in the 1-0 loss at Georgetown, but Pittsburgh was able to break through in the 22nd minute in this one. Oklahoma State transfer Samiah Phiri, who had been denied on a breakaway by Jenna Hall a few minutes earlier, picked out the top right corner from outside the box to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

It was still a one-goal margin into the final 12 minutes of the half. Just after three-fourths of Bucknell's heavily worked back line was subbed off for a breather, Anna Bout pounced on a loose ball in the box to make it 2-0. Then with 90 seconds left in the half, Hall tried to punch away Sarah Schupansky's cross into the box but inadvertently deflected it into her own goal.

The Panthers tacked on two more goals in the second half, first on a 59th-minute header by Deborah Abiodun, who is fresh off a World Cup appearance for the Nigerian National Team. Schupansky capped the scoring from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute.

Hall was sensational throughout, and she finished with a career-high 16 saves, 12 coming in the first half. She made a number of point-blank stops and surpassed her previous high of 15 saves against Rutgers in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

Ellie Breech made one save for Pitt, coming on a shot from Kelley Francis.

The Bison will play three of their next four games at home leading up to the start of Patriot League play. Villanova visits Emmitt Field at Holmes Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m.