Box Score

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh women’s soccer team (1-0-1) rode its largest offensive output since 2011 to a lopsided victory over Robert Morris (0-2-0) Sunday at Rooney Field.

“Once we got the first one it took a little bit of the pressure off,” said head coach Greg Miller. “Then we made a great effort to manufacture a goal right before halftime, which really boosted our confidence.”

The Panthers scored six goals for the first time since Oct. 9, 2011 against St. John’s.

Freshman Jarena Harmon matched the team record for goals in a single game (3) with the ninth hat trick in program history.

“What we’ve been harping on with Jarena is that you’re a grinder first,” said Miller of Harmon’s performance. “You get a lot of your goals on sheer effort. That’s exactly what happened to her today. That’s who she is at the core.”

“It means I’ve set the bar a lot higher for myself,” said Harmon. “I have to continuously play and work harder, especially in practice, to get better athletically and mentally.”

Freshman Kaylee Rabatin’s three assists, all to Harmon, were good for the second-best mark in program history.

Pitt took the lead in the 39^th minute on Harmon’s first collegiate goal, assisted by Rabatin. Harmon received the ball in the right of the goal area, worked her way through multiple defenders in traffic, and fired it inside the far post past the goalkeeper.

Her second strike of the day came just six minutes later with less than 10 seconds remaining in the half. This time Rabatin found redshirt freshman Alex Reckas in the corner who put a ball right in front of the keeper off of a deflection. Harmon then dealt the finishing blow to make it 2-0, Pitt.

Pitt continued to generate offense in the second half. Senior forward Roosa Arvas netted two goals, the 15^th and 16^th of her career, within two minutes of one another. The first came via a straightaway 18-yard strike to the left of the keeper, while the second came from the right of the box courtesy of assists from freshmen Sarah Krause and Juliana Vazquez.

Harmon delivered her third and final goal in the 77^th minute of play. Rabatin, who collected her third assist of the game on the score, controlled the ball in the corner before sending a cross to Harmon directly in front of the goal.

Rabatin rounded out Pitt’s scoring on the day with her first career goal in the 89^th minute on an assist from junior Emily Pietrangelo. Rabatin took the ball in the left corner and bent a shot into far net to make the score 6-0, where it would remain.

Up next, the Panthers will travel to take on Northern Colorado this Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by Colorado College on Sunday at 1 p.m.