Mallams, Compty Push Golden Eagles Past Pittsburgh, 2-1

Oct. 6, 2006

MILWAUKEE - On the hot feet of junior Allison Mallams and redshirt freshman Michelle Compty, the Marquette women's soccer team defeated BIG EAST Conference foe Pittsburgh, 2-1, Friday night at Valley Fields. With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 5-4-4 overall and 3-2-1 in BIG EAST play, while the Panthers drop to 7-4-2 overall and 2-3-1 in the BIG EAST. All-around, it was a special night for the Golden Eagles and former soccer great Kelly Roethe who became the first women's soccer player to have her jersey retired. Marquette's all-time goal scorer was honored in a pregame ceremony that included family, coaches, current players and staff.

"We wanted to make it a special night with all of the families, alumni and especially Kelly Roethe here," said head coach Markus Roeders. "Overall, I thought we played well and at the end we won the game, and that is what matters."

The Golden Eagles controlled play in the first half keeping the ball on Pitt's side of the field where Marquette was able to jump out to an early 2-0 lead.

It took Marquette just over six minutes to begin things in the first half. Mallams started the first goal-scoring sequence with a square pass to senior Megan Connelly who served it to the left post where Compty used her head to flick it past Pitt keeper, Alison Finch.

About 12 minutes later, Marquette pushed its lead to two when Mallams tapped the ball into Pittsburgh's net for her seventh goal of the season. Sophomore Allison McBride tallied her first assist of the season when she launched the ball towards the goal where junior Christy Zwolski knocked it loose from Finch and Mallams was in the right place at the right time to knock it in.

By the end of the half the Golden Eagles had out shot the Panthers, 8-2, and taken six corner kicks.

"I thought we played really well in the first half creating a lot of chances," said Roeders. The first goal was magnificent. Every thing from the beginning of it to the end when the smallest player on our team got in the air and scored on a header."

In the second half, Marquette switched its line-up but was unable to find a rhythm. As a result, Pittsburgh pressed and was able to create some chances for itself. The Panthers attempted to get on the board in the 59th minute when Meta Haley was fed the ball and charged towards the goal. She nailed the ball past Boyer, but was called offsides and the goal was disallowed.

Pitt finally got its chance and tallied a goal in the 71st minute when Marquette got caught in transition. Pitt's Megan Watson was able to gain possession of the ball where she booted it over Boyer's head to make it 2-1.

"We anticipated that they were going to come out hard in the second half," Roeders said. "They stepped up their game. We were both trading chances. Give them credit. That goal they scored was a great shot. We weren't able to establish a flow right away due to the changes we made and didn't have the rhythm and flow we were looking for. To sustain the play we had in the first half for 90 minutes is difficult."

For the game, Marquette had 13 shots - seven on goal - to Pitt's four. Finch made five stops for the Panthers, while Boyer made one save in all 90 minutes in goal.

The Golden Eagles face a tough test against seventh-ranked West Virginia on Sunday, Oct. 8, at Valley Fields. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Live stats will be available on www.gomarquette.com.