Box Score PITTSBURGH -- Point Park University women's soccer remained unbeaten in the River States Conference with Thursday night's 4-0 shutover over visiting WVU Tech at Highmark Stadium. The Pioneers extended their unbeaten streak to seven games in a row as well.
The Pioneers (7-6-1, 6-0-1 RSC) built on their 1-0 halftime lead with three more in the second half to put the Golden Bears away. The win started the weekend homestand for Point Park, the final home games of the regular season. The Pioneers will host Rio Grande (Ohio) for Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 22 with an 11:00 a.m. kickoff.
Point Park was holding on to a 1-0 lead at the half after building a 14-5 lead in shots the first 45 minutes. Point Park got an early goal off the head of Chanell Britten in the fifth minute. It looked like a sign of things to come with the early offense, but the Pioneers had to settle for the one-goal lead into the break.
The second half was different with Point Park keeping the pressure on and getting three more goals to go in. Athena Beck made the score 2-0 just 10 minutes into the second half when her cross from the right-hand side ended up in the back of the net. It caught the WVU Tech defense off guard as the Pioneers took control.
Point Park really put things away in the at the 72:24 mark when Mireya Rojas ran into a beautiful cross by Jurnee Durrett-Finney at the goal line for the 3-0 lead. Durrett-Finney's cross was perfectly placed to the goal, and Rojas timed her run well to meet the ball at the goal line.
It was the three-point night for Rojas, who had a very nice assist on Britten's goal in the first half. It was nearly more points for Rojas later on, but she had to settle for an own goal charged to the Golden Bears in the 81st minute. That made the score 4-0. A shot toward the goal was pushed in by the WVU Tech defense as the brilliant night continued for Rojas, who had nearly everything she touched end up in the back of the net.
The Point Park shutout ended up with eight shots allowed and only five on goal. The defensive backline anchored by Alina Bigec and Gilliane Stewardson in the middle and Josie Valeri and Abigail Gnass on the outside made WVU Tech take most of its shots from outside the book. WVU Tech had very little chances from in close. Point Park goalkeeper Ella Serlin came up with five saves.
The Pioneers will honor their seniors on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. for the Senior Day recognition. Rio Grande is coming off a 2-2 tie at Carlow on Thursday and will kickoff versus Point Park at 11:00 a.m.
