Tew and Abraham score first-half goals as Pitt beats Youngstown State 2-1 in the season opener

PITTSBURGH. Freshman Maci Tew and junior Lola Abraham scored in the first half as Pitt beat Youngstown State 2-1 on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Ambrose Urbanic Field in the season opener for both teams. The win was Pitt’s 10th straight in a home opener.

Pitt (1-0-0) scored first at 15:17. Pitt drew a corner kick, and Tew took the corner herself. Her ball went just over the Youngstown State keeper’s hands and into the net. The goal was Tew’s first in college and the first Pitt goal of the 2026 season.

Youngstown State (0-1-0) tied the game at 21:19. A long ball went over the top of the Pitt backline, and Sara Felder, assisted by Makayla Thinger, poked the ball into the net. The goal was the 12th of Felder’s career.

Abraham put Pitt back in front at 37:14, and that score held through the second half. Celine Ottah played the ball into the 18-yard box to Adi Bianchin. Bianchin passed across the front of the goal, and Abraham finished. The goal was the third of Abraham’s career.

Neither team scored in the second half. Pitt outshot Youngstown State 13-6 for the game and took 15 corner kicks to three for Youngstown State. In the 72nd minute Pitt expected a penalty kick as Ottah battled for a ball in the box. A VAR review overturned the call, and play continued at 2-1.

Freshman Elli Johnson started in goal for Pitt and played 90 minutes. She faced two shots on goal and made one save, the first save of her college career. Kendall Sears played 90 minutes in goal for Youngstown State and made one save. Six Pitt players made their debuts in the game, and four of them, Johnson, Tew, Desiree Reed and Talyn Guthrie, were in the starting lineup.

Pitt is 13-1-2 all time in home openers. Pitt’s next game was at home against Texas on Sunday, Aug. 16, at noon at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

Goals: Pitt, Tew 15:17, unassisted. Youngstown State, Felder 21:19, Thinger. Pitt, Abraham 37:14, Bianchin and Ottah. Halftime: Pitt 2, Youngstown State 1. Attendance: 377.