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Bobcats Hockey Falls To Pitt For First Time Ever

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — The Bobcats hosted the Pittsburgh Panthers for the second-straight night and fell, 5-2.

The game got off to a very quick start as both teams were making huge hits and playing very well. The Panthers got off to a quick start as Alex Crilley scored a goal three minutes and 23 seconds into the game. About three minutes later, Drew Magyar responded with a goal to tie the game 1-1. 

In the early second period, Bobcats defenseman Ryan Hastings was ejected from the game because of an illegal hit to the head and received a game misconduct. This would be where the Bobcat struggles began because in the five-minute major Ohio received, Pitt was able to capitalize on it and scored a goal.  Bobcats forward JT Schimizzi tied the game up at two apiece. Just seconds later, Austin Tonkovich scored a goal.  The Panthers were able to double their score just a few seconds later as Ben Leslie scored bringing the game to 4-2. 

The third period was full of offensive desperation from the Bobcats.  They did manage to control the puck well and get ten shots on goal, but none of them found the back of the net.

Oldrich Virag of the Panthers scored an empty-net goal sealing the game away in the closing seconds. 

The Bobcats and Pitt Panthers battle for the puck during their game on Oct. 2, 2021 [Jack Demmler | WOUB]
[Jack Demmler | WOUB]
One of the biggest problems for the Bobcats was their penalties as Ohio racked up 25 penalty minutes to Pitt’s four penalty minutes. In the second period, the Bobcats became undisciplined as they got 17 penalty minutes in that period alone.

Another huge factor in the Panther’s victory tonight was their goalie Devin Baressi. The Bobcats had 44 shots on goal and Baressi saved 42 of those shots. 

He was a brick wall in the net for Pitt and shut down every opportunity Ohio had to score a goal. 

This is the first time in program history that Pitt beat the Bobcats. 

The Bobcats look to bounce back from this as they play a three-game stretch in Bird Arena against West Virginia Thursday then they play Roosevelt on Friday and Saturday with all the games starting at 7 P.M.