Ahead after a goal in the 20th minute, Marquette characteristically allowed Pittsburgh to come back and equalize late in the first half, and then eventually lost in double overtime, earning Marquette a 2-12-4 (1-9-1 Big East) record on the season.,”The Marquette men's soccer team ended its season the way it started: with a loss. The Golden Eagles fell to last place Big East contenders Pittsburgh on Saturday after a 40-yard chip shot over the Marquette goalkeeper's head in the 107th minute.
Ahead after a goal in the 20th minute, Marquette characteristically allowed Pittsburgh to come back and equalize late in the first half, and then eventually lost in double overtime, earning Marquette a 2-12-4 (1-9-1 Big East) record on the season.
Marquette again created few chances, and they never capitalized on those chances. Marquette went up on the score chart early but failed to retain the lead and passes seemed to be given to the other team on multiple occasions. The game was a true reflection of Marquette's losing record.
"We didn't capitalize on our opportunities and we let them back into the game," admitted head coach Louis Bennett after the game.
The beginning of the game favored Marquette as the Golden Eagles managed five shots, including an open goal, missed opportunity from junior captain Dan Addis in the 10th minute. However, it wouldn't take Marquette long to get on the board as a throw-in from senior Mike Carlson connected with the head of freshman midfielder Scott Miller, who headed the ball into the top of the net five yards out in the 20th minute.
"Carlson threw the ball right where he was supposed to," said Miller. "I was able to flick it on and put enough on it to put it into the back of the net."
Marquette continued to put pressure on the Panthers as shots from Michael Greene in the 24th and another from Scott Miller in the 25th managed to ricochet off the Pitt goalkeeper's hands and feet respectively.
Marquette's lead would last only 16 minutes as a cross from Pittsburgh midfielder Matt Langton flicked off the hands of Marquette goalie Steve Purdy. The loose ball was then was serviced into the net by Pitt's E.J . McCormick in the 36th minute, giving Pitt its first goal in four games.
The second half saw little action besides a rocket shot from Addis in the 50th minute from 15 yards out, and another off-target shot from Addis in the 85th. The game and the season came to an end in the 108th minute after Purdy attempted to clear the ball. He was intercepted and scored on from 40 yards out by Panther Justin Boehm. The ball was lobbed over Purdy's head, and managed to roll in with Purdy just getting a finger on it.
Junior Nick Kay seemed to be at a loss of words after the game. "Honestly this was a really, really frustrating game," said Kay. "It was really hard that game with that kind of goal."
Bennett, however, will not sulk all winter over his team's second consecutive losing season. He'll be too focused on getting the Golden Eagles ready to come out strong next year.
"We need to create more familiar opportunities and we need to score more goals," said Bennett. "When we have the ability to score more goals more things will fall into place."
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