The Pitt men’s soccer team faced Northern Illinois in a second-round matchup in the NCAA tournament on Sunday, and despite a solid effort from the MAC champions, the Panthers were able to secure a 4-2 victory on a damp afternoon at Ambrose Urbanic Field and punch their ticket to the third round.
Northern Illinois would strike first, as Huskies forward Anthony Markanich put a header past Panthers goalkeeper Nico Campuzano in the fifth minute, capitalizing on a scoring chance off a corner kick. That made it 1-0, but the visitors would only hold that lead briefly.
Just 31 seconds later, Pitt would respond, as Panthers forward Bertin Jacquesson sent a cross into the box that slipped through the hands of Huskies goalkeeper Martin Sanchez and fell to the feet of Panthers forward Guilherme Feitosa.