Sports
Ohio Soccer gets shutout at home against Pitt
By: Gavyn Heitman
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio soccer (2-2-0) hosted Pittsburgh (5-1-1) at Chessa Field for the Bobcats’ first major test of the young season. The Panthers shut out Ohio 3-0, to extend their win streak.
The Bobcats walked onto Chessa Field amid an Athens heat wave, with feels-like temperatures reaching 97 degrees. Despite the humid conditions, Ohio had shown they could beat the heat, coming off a 6-0 victory over Mercyhurst in similar conditions.
Pittsburgh entered the matchup looking to extend its winning streak after recent victories over Cornell and Liberty.
The Panthers came out firing early, recording multiple shots on goal. Ohio goalkeeper Ayla Rammel deflected one attempt before Pittsburgh’s Adi Bianchin found the back of the net in the 10th minute to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead.
Ohio’s defense held strong for several minutes before Ella Deevers doubled Pittsburgh’s lead in the 21st minute. Bianchin then scored her second goal of the game shortly after, putting the Bobcats in a 3-0 hole.
Both teams took a much-needed hydration break before play resumed. Ohio attempted to respond with three shots on goal, but Pittsburgh goalkeeper Addison Roemer turned each attempt away.
Noelle Mierello nearly got Ohio on the board shortly before halftime, sending a shot off the left post. The Bobcats were unable to find the back of the net, heading into halftime trailing 3-0.
Both teams battled defensively during the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Pittsburgh managed just one shot on goal during that stretch, but Rammel corralled the attempt. Bianchin continued to pressure the Ohio defense with another shot in the 14th minute of the second half, but Rammel came up with another diving save to keep the deficit at three.
Around the 29-minute mark, Rammel made another impressive save in the top-right corner of the goal. Pittsburgh appeared to score on the ensuing opportunity, but the goal was called back because of an offside penalty.
After 25 minutes of play in the second half, both teams took another hydration break and made substitutions. The Bobcat crowd came alive late in the half when Kendal Erbach sent a ball into play from the sideline in the 34th minute. Sania Dearing fired a shot toward the goal, but it went wide right.
Pittsburgh and Ohio continued trading shots as the clock wound down. Rammel continued her strong performance in goal, while Roemer recorded her first save of the game for the Panthers.
With just minutes remaining, Pittsburgh’s Desiree Reed attempted to score her first goal of the season, but her shot went wide right and over the goal. Ohio was unable to generate enough offense to mount a comeback, falling to Pittsburgh 3-0 at Chessa Field.
The Bobcats will return to Chessa Field Sunday at 1 p.m. to host Indiana. Pittsburgh will return home to face Dayton.