Bradford, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's lacrosse team played its first home game of the 2026 season on Saturday, hosting Washington & Jefferson at Rathburn Family Field. After a back-and-forth opening half, the Panthers fell behind 8-5, but scored four unanswered goals to win 9-8.
The Panthers started slow, as the Presidents maintained the majority of early possession, forcing Hunter Shank into 3 saves and hitting the post once. After six and a half minutes, the Panthers were able to open the scoring. After David De La Teja picked up a ground ball, he flipped it to Mikey Blake, who found Sam Kemp open in the middle of the defense. Kemp caught the pass and flicked a left-handed shot past the keeper to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. A minute later, Washington & Jefferson converted a Panther turnover into an equalizing goal. The score remained tied until the final minute of the quarter. After drawing a penalty, the Panthers used the man advantage to go back in front. Logan Watts controlled the ball behind the net and found De La Teja at the top of the zone. The sophomore attacker caught the pass and fired a high shot into the top corner for his third goal of the year. The Panthers seemed to hold a lead heading into the 2nd quarter, but got caught sleeping in the final seconds. After a runout, a Washington & Jefferson midfielder flipped a pass towards the attacking zone, his teammate missed the catch, but it bounced past Shank and into the goal to tie the game at 2.
4 minutes into the second quarter, the Panthers regained the lead. Austyn Stack received a pass from Watts on the left wing and beat his defender to the middle of the field. Before the Presidents' defense could close, he whipped a shot past the goalie to put Pitt-Bradford ahead 3-2. The Panthers also drew a pair of penalties on the play, but could not score with three shots on the advantage. They would pay for their failure to convert, as the visitors tied the game with 7 minutes left. With 5 minutes left in the half, the Panthers went ahead once again. Luke Amberman attacked the defense from the wing and drew a pair of defenders. He flipped a pass to Watts, who released a low shot that bounced past the goalie for the Panthers' 4th. Washington and Jefferson were able to find another answer; however, scoring with 30 seconds left to send the game to the break tied at 4.
After the restart, the Panthers withstood two early attacks and scored after 2 minutes to go in front 5-4. Amberman intercepted an outlet pass from the W & J goalie and quickly fed Watts on the breakaway. Watts gathered the pass and calmly beat the goalie for his second. The visitors responded immediately after the goal, tying the game in 28 seconds. The quick response flipped the momentum to the Presidents, who went on to score the next three goals to go ahead 8-5. The Panthers seemed to be looking at a 3-goal deficit heading into the final quarter, but were able to beat the buzzer and pull one back in the third. Joe LeFurge forced a turnover at the top of the defensive zone and quickly transitioned into an attack. He passed to Amberman at midfield, who quickly found Watts on the fast break again. Watts remained composed and beat the goalie with less than a second on the clock to cut the deficit to two heading into the final quarter.
The Panthers kept the momentum from the late goal in the 3rd, and drew a penalty after 15 seconds in the 4th. Watts possessed the ball behind the goal and worked a perfect give-and-go with Blake to get an open shot from just outside the crease for the Panthers' 7th. Two minutes later, the Panthers tied the game at 8. Jaden Freeland received a pass at the top of the zone and quickly beat the defender with pace to the outside. HE whipped a shot to the far post that found the net, tying the game at 8. The next 11 mintues of play were tension-filled as both teams looked to find a winner. The Panthers had 3 shots saved and another hit the post in the stretch, while Shank made 3 saves to keep the game tied. Pitt-Bradford packed in defensively with just under a minute left and were rewarded with an unforced turnover with 1:35 remaining.
Head Coach Scotty Gwyn called a timeout with 1:08 to play, looking to set up a play for the winner. The Panthers went to freshman Austyn Stack, who possessed the ball for the next 17 seconds. He tried to run down the left flank, and then, after looping back around to the top of the zone, bounced a shot in front of the goalie and into the net for what would be the game winner. The Panthers lost the ensuing faceoff, giving the Presidents a chance to tie the game. The visitors used a pick play to get an open shot, which hit the outside of the near post and bounced towards the sideline. Sam Kemp hustled after the rebound and dove ahead of the nearest Washington & Jefferson attacker to win the runout and secure possession. After another timeout, the Panthers successfully worked a clear into the offensive end and ran out the clock for the win.
Logan Watts led the way for the Panthers, scoring 4 goals and assisting on another. Austyn Stack added two goals, including the game-winner. Jaden Freeland and Sam Kemp also scored for the Panthers. Luke Amberman tallied 3 assists. Hunter Shank (3-0) picked up the win after making 11 saves.
The Panthes move to 3-0 on the season after the win. They will be back on the road in their midweek matchup, as they head to Meadville to take on Allegheny. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m start on Wednesday.
