Point Park starts RSC action with 4-1 victory over Brescia (Ky.) at Highmark

PITTSBURGH -- Point Park University women's soccer started River States Conference play with a 4-1 victory over Brescia (Ky.) University on Thursday night at Highmark Stadium. The Pioneers were in control with a 3-0 lead, and Holly Pascoe put the game away in the 81st minute for her second goal of the night. 

Point Park (4-2-2, 1-0 RSC) won its third game in a row. The Pioneers dominated the game with a 29-9 advantage in shots on the night. The game started with several near misses for the Pioneers along with some big stops for Brescia (1-5, 0-1 RSC). All of that kept the score 0-0 until later on in the first half. 

The Pioneers broke through on the scoresheet with the first of two goals from Pascoe. The senior forward from New Zealand found herself on the receiving end of a nice combination from Anne Barbosa to Chanell Britten and then on to Pascoe for goal at the 33rd minute. Pascoe stayed just on sides after Barbosa had gotten it up ahead to Britten, who flicked it over the defense with her head. 

Point Park earned the 2-0 lead on Britten's penalty kick in the final minutes of the first half. She was taken down in the box and was awarded the try. She buried it for her third of the season. 

On a corner kick in the 47th minute, Orsi Tatai hustled for a loose ball in front of the net and put it in for the third unanswered goal. Brescia did get one of those goals back in the 66th minute from Maci Uffelman. But Pascoe made sure to put the game on ice later on. She broke away for a goal in the 80th minute and the 4-1 lead. 

Pascoe's second goal capped off what was a night of peppering the cage with shots. The Pioneers had 20 shots on goal with Brescia goal keeper Ashby Greenwell make many strong saves. Many times throughout the night, she was put herself in perfect position to stop the onslaught of shots. She even got some help from her defenders with Mia Grosshans getting in the way of two potential goals inside the 6. 

Point Park had two goalkeepers see action with Ella Serlin pitching a first-half shutout for a 2-0 lead. Nicole Kuchinski played the final 45 minutes in net. 

Point Park will step out of conference play Saturday at home in a city matchup versus Carnegie Mellon. Kickoff is 11 a.m. at Highmark Stadium. It is the final non-conference game of the year.