The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's soccer team battled back from a 2-0 first-half deficit to score three unanswered and beat Elmira 3-2 at home.
The Panthers got off to a slow start, as the majority of the action in the opening 20 minutes was in the Pitt-Bradford end. The Soaring Eagles started the scoring in the 15th minute. Elmira was able to get enough space to hit a cross into the box where it was met with a one-time finish to beat Sizani. 6 minutes later, they doubled their lead. Using a lightning-quick counter Elmira moved from their own 18 to a breakaway within seconds. After a through ball got them behind the Panther defensive line, Elmira was able to score a second by shooting around an onrushing Sihle Sizani.
Pitt-Bradford got a lifeline in the 26th. After a foul near midfield, Morounfoluwa Olorunyomi saw an opening on the resulting free-kick. He blasted a shot from the restart that was able to beat the keeper and cut the lead in half. The goal was the first of Olorunyomi's career.
In the second half, both teams were able to create chances, but it was the Panthers who would make the best of theirs. In the 68th, Jan Winnewisser opened his record with a game-tying goal. After receiving a pass from Brent Kennedy, Winnewisser beat an Elmira defender on the dribble and got a shot off which was parried away by the keeper. Winnewisser stayed on the attack and was able to collect the rebound. He took a left-footed shot which found its way into the side netting to tie the match at 2.
With the momentum on the Panthers' side, things suddenly turned as a second yellow for TJ Magro saw the Panthers reduced to ten men. While the Soaring Eagles took control and had the lions-share of chances in the final 17 minutes of action, it was the Panthers who found a winner. In the 84th minute, Chase Rider collected the ball in his own end and made a long dribbling run through the midfield. Rider was able to slide a pass to Winnewisser to his left but continued his run towards goal. Winnewisser was able to play a pass back to rider who slipped a shot inside the near post to score the game-winner. The goal was Rider's 6th of the season, which leads the AMCC.
The three goalscorers for the Panthers, Olorunyomi, Winnewisser, and Rider, all finished the game with similar scorelines. They each scored, took three shots, and put two on target. Brent Kennedy took two shots that were not on goal, while Joe Magro and Scott Compson also had shots. Sihle Sizani made 5 saves to pick up his second win of the season.
The Panthers are now 2-3-1. In their next game, they will begin AMCC conference play, as they take on Alfred State. Kick-off is set for approximately 3:15 on Saturday.
