No. 10 Pitt men’s soccer team pummels UMass 5-1

The No. 10 Pitt men’s soccer team faced UMass at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Monday in its penultimate matchup of the 2021 regular season, and the Panthers lived up to their ranking and expectations, as they dealt the Minutemen a merciless 5-1 beating.

Pitt freshman Guilherme Feitosa continued to build on a breakout season by opening the scoring in the match four minutes and five seconds into the action. Feitosa hit the floor to head in a low cross sent in by Pitt midfielder Matt Bailey, and he sent the ball just above the outstretched hand of UMass goalkeeper Marvyn Dorchin for his third goal of the year, which put the Panthers up 1-0.

UMass forward Yosuke Hanya evened the score with a shot from seven yards out in the 24th minute, and it would remain 1-1 at the halftime break. But in the second half, the floodgates would open, as Pitt scored four times in the final 45 minutes.

Pitt defender Jasper Löeffelsend would get the ball rolling with his first career goal in the 51st minute. The shot was set up by Pitt forward Bertin Jacquesson and taken by Löeffelsend as three defenders converged on him, but despite the pressure, he placed the shot just inside the left post and out of Dorchin’s reach.

Seventeen minutes later, Löeffelsend would have his second career goal, and the Panthers would hold a 3-1 lead. It seemed Löeffelsend found his sweet spot, as both of his goals were scored from the top right of the box and buried in the back left corner of the net. However, this one was met with less resistance than the first, as it was a surprise shot taken when a loose ball flew into the air and serendipitously found its way to Löeffelsend.

Five minutes later, Pitt defender Arturo Ordoñez would get in on the action, as he headed in a cross from Feitosa to make it 4-1, Panthers. And in the 78th minute, Pitt forward Alexander Dexter capped off the win with a goal placed in the upper-left corner of the net that gave Pitt a 5-1 lead. And with UMass unable to answer in the remaining 12 minutes, Pitt would leave the field with a 5-1 victory.

With the win, Pitt improved to 9-4-1 on the season and 4-2-1 in ACC play. The team also maintained its perfect 7-0 record at Ambrose Urbanic Field this season and made history with its final three goals, as that barrage unfolded in nine minutes and 43 seconds. And as it turns out, no trio of goals was ever scored faster in program history.

Pitt’s next challenge is Virginia Tech, a 9-3-3 team that has gone 3-3-1 in conference. The two teams will meet at Ambrose Urbanic Field, and kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Oct. 29.