PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A penalty kick goal from Javi Perez in the 76th minute and a late tally from Colin Brezniak lifted ACC member Pitt past a Longwood squad that played the final 38 minutes with 10 men 2-0 on a chilly Friday at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game and it didn't get any easier after going a man down," said Longwood head coach Jon Atkinson. "Going a man down just stacked the chips against us, but I'm proud of the guys effort and character. If we're able to keep that effort and character throughout the season, we'll do fantastic."

Longwood went a man down in the 52nd minute after Alex Waite was sent off. However, the Lancer defense was able to hold off a threatening Panther attack before Perez gave the Panthers an advantage in the 76th minute with a penalty kick that he placed into the lower left corner of the goal.

"That one call was the difference in the game," Atkinson said. "We were able to keep fighting and played until the final whistle. That PK goal was unlucky, but it shows how the game can go sometimes when you're away from home."

Pitt (1-2-0) doubled its lead in the 88th minute, as Brezniak finished a cross from Josh Coan into the lower right corner of the goal.

In a scoreless first half that was evenly played with a number of quality chances on both sides, the Panthers hit a post off a rebound attempt from Marcony Pimentel in the 42nd minute of play before the follow-up attempt was saved from Lance Da Silva.

Longwood's best chance of the opening period came off a corner kick where Eoin O Donovan put a shot on goal that was stopped by Panther keeper Mikal Outcalt. O Donovan was one of four Lancers to place a shot on goal, as Connor Rea led Longwood with a pair of shots in the game.

In goal, Da Silva made a career-high seven saves against 23 shots, that ranks fifth all-time in Longwood's Division I era in shots faced. Mikal Outcalt made four for the Panthers , facing six Longwood shots.

Longwood continues its stretch of four straight games on the road, where it travels to face UNC Wilmington Friday, Sept. 8. Kickoff for that game is set for 7 p.m.

"This game set the standard," Atkinson said. "The work ethic and fight are what we want to see, but we just have to clean up some of the football and connection to make us a little more of an offensive threat. With the pieces we have in place, we can match anybody."

#GoWood