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Two soccer players in orange uniforms celebrate on the field, one smiling broadly while the other extends her arms in excitement.Two soccer players in orange uniforms celebrate on the field, one smiling broadly while the other extends her arms in excitement.
Ryan Hedley / Virginia Tech
Women's Soccer

Karpinski's game-winning goal propels Tech over Pitt, 2-1

Hokies begin ACC play 1-0 for the second time in three seasons

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PITTSBURGH – Tech (5-1-3) opened ACC play with a 2-1 comeback win over the Pitt Panthers on Thursday evening. 

Tied at 1-1, freshman Riley Karpinski launched the game-winner from 20 yards out in the 77th minute for her third goal of the season. 

How It Happened
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with neither team creating many chances. Pitt almost broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, but Julianna Trujillo made a double save on the near post to keep the score level. 

Pitt opened the scoring in the 57th minute with a breakaway behind the Hokies’ defense, allowing a one-on-one with Trujillo and a composed finish. 

It was two minutes later when the Hokies found the equalizer through Celine Kampmann. The Hokies earned a corner kick on the nearside, which Bella Ganiere took, sending a high-arching ball to the middle of the six-yard box. Kampmann met it with her head and finished past the diving Panthers goalkeeper. 

The game-winning goal came in the 77th minute with a strike from outside the 18-yard box from Riley Karpinski. The play was started by Hannah Pachan picking the ball off the Panthers and sending it forward to Eliana Salama, who squared it to Anna Weir. Weir continued the sequence with a pass to Karpinski, who cut around her defender and finished with a right-footed strike to the upper far corner. 

Game Notes

  • Tech begins ACC play 1-0 for the second time in the past three seasons
  • Tech is now 8-2-1 in all-time matchups against Pitt and 7-2-1 under head coach Chugger Adair
  • Tech remains unbeaten on the road (3-0-1)
  • Tech recorded 10 or more corner kicks for the fourth time this year and the third time in the past four matches
  • Riley Karpinski netted her third goal of the season and her first career game-winner
  • Celine Kampann scored her first collegiate goal
  • Bella Ganiere, Eliana Salama and Anna Weir each recorded an assist
  • The assist by Ganiere was her first as a Hokie
  • Julianna Trujillo recorded a season-high six saves
  • Madi Boutot, Gabby Ciocca, Kampmann and Ellie Robertson played all 90 minutes

Up Next
The Hokies (5-1-3) travel to Syracuse (3-4-2) on Sunday, Sept. 20, for a matchup with the Orange at noon. The game will be televised on ACCNX.

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