LATROBE, Pa. - Visiting Thiel scored a pair of goal midway through the second half to defeat Saint Vincent 2-0 on the UPMC Field Turf in both teams' 2021 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) opener.

The Bearcats (1-8, 0-1 PAC) controlled possession for most of the match, out-shooting the Tomcats (1-6-3, 1-0 PAC) 19-7 for the game, but were unable to find the back of the net.

Saint Vincent looked primed to take an early lead, opening the game with seven shots in the first 22 minutes, but was kept off of the scoreboard, with two of the attempts saved before a Joel Quiroz Mansilla free kick from 20 yards out blasted off of the crossbar. The Bearcats continued to pepper the Thiel defense throughout the duration of the half, but could not muster the game's first goal, despite ending the opening frame with a 12-3 advantage in shots.

The Bearcats looked to continue to control play coming out of the intermission, taking three shots and two corner kicks over the first seven minutes, but were again held scoreless. 

In the 66th minute, SVC keeper Zachary Gibbons preserved the scoreless tie when he ranged far out of his cage to cut off a breakaway attempt, but less than a minute later, Thiel's Zach Johns scored directly off of a throw-in to give the visitors the 1-0 lead.

The Tomcats added an insurance marker with 11:30 left in regulation, with Anthony Phillips directing a free kick from 20 yards out over the SVC wall and just inside the crossbar to make it 2-0.

Following the second Thiel goal, the Bearcats again regained possession for most of the final 10 minutes of play, out-shooting the Tomcats 5-0 over the span, but again came up empty.

David Rahaman totaled a game-high four shots - all on goal - for the Bearcats, while Quiroz Mansilla and Andres Mateos Carrion each took three attempts. Gibbons made two saves in goal.

Saint Vincent will look to snap its losing streak on Sunday, Oct. 3, hosting PAC foe Chatham University for a 3 p.m. Senior Day match at UPMC Field.