PITTSBURGH – The first 25 minutes belonged to Pitt on Saturday night, but with three goals in the final 46 minutes, nationally-ranked No. 19 Virginia handed the Panthers their first loss at home in 2014 by a score of 3-0 on Oct. 4 at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

Coming into the game, Pitt (3-4-3, 0-1-2 ACC) was unbeaten at home this season, with a 1-0-3 record in four games. Overall the Panthers had not lost at home in their past five games, tying the longest streak at Ambrose Urbanic Field since it opened up in 2011.

Virginia (6-3-1, 2-1-1 ACC), meanwhile, won its first road game of the season after suffering losses at Tulsa and then-ranked No. 18 Syracuse.

The Cavaliers received goals from three different players on the night, coming from Todd Wharton, Darius Madison and Nicko Corriveau. For Madison, it was his third goal of the week in just two games, accounting for 60-percent of Virginia’s five goals. Scott Thomsen, who finished with two assists, was instrumental on all three goals and nearly had a third assist if it was for Pitt junior goalkeeper Dan Lynd making a save on Madison’s initial shot.

Right from the opening kickoff, Pitt dictated the tempo and was outmuscling Virginia for the loose balls. For their will and determination, the Panthers outshot Virginia 3-1 while holding the same 3-1 margin in corner kicks in the opening 25 minutes.

Pitt was the first team to put a shot on goal when freshman Matt Bischoff, who had some nice crosses earlier in the match, dribbled to his left and fired a left-footed shot across his body, forcing the 6-5 Calle Brown to dive and get a piece of the ball, sending it out of bounds.

That play seemed to wake up Virginia, as the remainder of the half, and game for that matter, was controlled by the Cavaliers.

In the remaining 12 minutes of the first, the visitors took six of their seven opening half shots, including the game’s opening goal with 61 seconds to go until the half. The shooting barrage began with a pair of shots in the 34th minute, the first of which was denied by Lynd. After a restart 10 minutes later, Thomsen sent a pass to Wharton in the center of the field. To the surprise of everyone, Wharton blasted a shot from 25 yards out with the ball sneaking between Lynd and the right goal post, giving the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead into the break.

Virginia picked up right where it left off, placing two shots on goal in the first two minutes of the second half. However, Lynd was up for the challenge and stood his ground both times.

In the 59th minute, Thomsen started the play again, this time from the left side. He found a cutting Madison streaking down the center of the field. Lynd made the stop on Madison’s first attempt, but couldn’t control the ball and Madison collected the rebound and put his shot by Lynd for a 2-0 advantage.

Just seven minutes later, Virginia had back-to-back shots on the same position for the third time in 30 minutes, but a block and Lynd’s fifth and final save of the night kept it a two-goal game at the time.

Looking to cut the lead in half, freshman Hamish Law, who already has two game-winners this year, snuck by the Cavaliers defense to receive a through ball and had just Brown to beat. However, he was whistled offside.

With time winding down, Corriveau added one final goal for Virginia, capping the scoring at 3-0. Thomsen started the play once again with another cross from the left.

Brown (5-2-1) made two saves for the shutout, while Lynd (2-4-3) had five stops. Entering the game, Lynd ranked third in the ACC with 4.13 saves per game and upped that average to 4.22.

Virginia finished the night with a 19-5 advantage in shots, while Pitt held the edge in corner kicks 5-4. Despite only seven of the 19 shots on goal for the Cavaliers, another seven had the opportunity to be on goal if it weren’t for Pitt packing the box, allowing the defense to record seven blocked shots.

Pitt will head to Xavier on Tuesday, Oct. 7 hoping to continue it non-conference success this season. The Panthers are 3-1-2 outside of the ACC this year and are 4-1-2 in non-league games in the last seven outings.

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