ST. LOUIS -- The University of Missouri-St Louis women's soccer team fell to Pittsburg State 2-0 in its season opener at Don Dallas Soccer Field on Thursday evening.

Carrie Cunningham scored a penalty kick for the Gorillas (1-0) in the 83^rd minute before Ella Cazzavillan iced the game 30 seconds later.

It was scoreless until the referee awarded Cunningham a penalty after a late tackle in the Tritons (0-1) box. UMSL keeper Rylee Griffith dove left while Cunningham sent her penalty shot the opposite way to give Pitt St. a 1-0 lead.

Up until the 83^rd minute, the Triton defense had only allowed six shots with just two on net.

On the restart, the Gorillas recovered the ball and sent it in over the top. The Triton defense stopped, believing the runner to be offside, and in the confusion Cazzavillan capitalized, slotting the ball home and making the score 2-0 in favor of Pitt State

UMSL had five shots with their best chance of the night coming in the first half. Karley Kinzinger crashed the far post, managing to ger her shot on target, aiming for the bottom left of the goal and forcing keeper Jocelyn Kramer to make her only save of the game.

Mary Kate Neal and Griffith recorded one save apiece in the contest.

The Tritons continue their home stand this Saturday (Sept. 6) hosting Washburn (0-0-1) at 12 p.m. at Don Dallas Field.