Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's soccer team took a first-half lead against Bethany on Thursday but was unable to hold on as they fell to the Bison 3-2.
Following 20 minutes of action that saw both teams put efforts on target, it was the Panthers who were able to strike first, and take their first lead of the season. In the 25th minute. The Panthers were able to slide a pass out to Jada Luther on the right wing. After collecting the pass, Luther fired a pass back into the middle that found Carolelyn LaPrairie. LaPrairie skillfully turned around the defender upon receiving the pass and moved towards the goal. She was able to get a shot off with her left foot that went into the bottom corner to put the Panthers ahead.
The Panthers were able to maintain their lead for the remainder of the half, due to two more saves from Emily Bethel. The biggest opportunity came in the 44th minute. The Bison were able to break through the Panthers' defense and break away towards the goal. Emily Bethel charged from her net and made a close-quarters save near the top of the 18-yard box to maintain the advantage.
Bethel made two more saves at the beginning of the second half, but the Bison finally broke through in the 69th minute. They were able to break behind the Panther defense once more and get a shot away. Bethel was able to get a hand on the shot, but it was able to squeak by and into the corner to tie the match at one. The visitors were able to take advantage of a Panther error to take the lead in the 83rd. They played a low cross into the box and after a miscommunication between Bethel and her defense, the ball found a Bethany attacker at the back post who was able to finish the attack to go ahead.
Bethany added to the lead three minutes later from the spot. On a corner kick, the Panthers attempted to block a pass in the box, however it struck a Panther arm, leading to a penalty kick. Bethel was unable to make the save on the resulting spot-kick, which was well placed in the top corner.
Pitt-Bradford was able to pull one back in the 87th to threaten the lead. Alexis Gibbons took control of the ball 4 yards from the goal. She dribbled the ball through a line of defenders, making enough room to take a shot, which she placed into the bottom left corner to cut the lead to just one. In the final moments, the Panthers were able to win a corner kick and get a shot off, but were unable to score the game-tying goal.
LaPrairie's goal was her second of the season. Jada Luther's assist on the play was Luther's first of the year. Gibbon's late second-half strike was the first in her collegiate career. She also led the team in shots with 3, putting two of them on goal. Emily Bethel made 10 saves in the loss.
The Panthers (0-7-1, 0-1 AMCC) will return to conference action as they travel south to face Mount Aloysius on Saturday. Kickoff for the AMCC matchup is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
