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Pitt Clinches CCLA Play-Off Berth with win over Ohio U

Apr. 4, 2011

The University of Pittsburgh Panther's Lacrosse team won at home in the Cost Center over the Ohio University Bobcats, by a score of 12-11.  The win improves the Panthers to a 6-2 record, and drops Ohio to 1-3.

The game was fought back and forth all game with division rival Ohio University in a very emotionally charged game.  Despite playing man-down for ten minutes worth of penalties in the game, Pitt came up with the big one-goal victory over Ohio in the closing minutes of the game off a shot from Jr. Midfielder Pat Bursch in a pivotal man-up situation.

The Panthers were lead Offensively by Bursch with his second career hat trick, and tallying 9G, 4A in his last three games.  Soph. attackmen Tyler Novotny and Fr. Alex Powell also played key roles offensively with 2G, 1A each.  In total, 9 different Panthers scored points against the Bobcats.  

Jr. Defensive Midfielder Nick Ruff also had a career game scoring two goals, winning 12 of the 17 face-offs, and tying Freshman Defenseman Max Carlson with a game-high nine ground balls.  “Ruff had an outstanding game. Through a few minor tweeks he improved and dominated his face-offs after going 1-for-8 against Carnegie Mellon,” Commented assistant coach Alex Perry. “Him and (Jr. defensive midfielder) Elliot Clakeley both have been our workhorses this season and continue to play key roles on defense.”

Freshman Goalie Drew Miller won his second consecutive start between the pipes, filling in for injured captain Chris Gorham, making 16 saves on the 27 shots he faced.

A full game recap can be found at http://mcla.us/scores/games/9083/

With this Win, Pitt wrapped up their conference games finishing with a final 2-1 record in the CCLA East division with wins over Toledo and Ohio, and the loss to Michigan.  With this win, Pitt also clinches a play off berth in the 2011 CCLA Conference Play-Offs, for the second straight year.

The CCLA playoffs will be held in Saline, MI, and additional information can be followed on the MCLA.us website at: http://mcla.us/playoffs/2011/CCLA/1/

This week, the Panthers travel to Lexington Kentucky with game against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, and the University of Kentucky Wildcats on Friday and Saturday, and travel to Muncie, IN on Sunday to play the Ball State Cardinals.  This will be the first meeting between the Pitt Panthers and Alabama (6-3) and Kentucky (2-6).  Pitt has won each of their last 5 meetings with Ball State (0-5), winning all five games by a combined score of 72-26.