FINAL: Pitt 3, MIami 1
Photo courtesy Matt Ralph (Brotherly Game)
ACC Women’s Soccer
FINAL: Pitt 3, Miami 1
MATCH STATS
Match Recap
Pitt women’s soccer team came roaring back with three second half goals to defeat Miami, 3-1, at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Thursday evening.
With the win, Pitt improves to 9-1-0 for the first time in program history, and 2-0 in the ACC, for its best start since joining the conference in 2013.
Katie Zeleski’s well-placed strike inside a tight spot on the right side of goal began the second half assult on the Miami goal in the 50th minute.
WE’RE ON THE BOARD!
Katie Zailski with her second goal in as many games ties it up, 1-1!#H2P pic.twitter.com/d4boWRquNE
— Pitt Women’s Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 22, 2022
Only seconds later, Landy Mertz gave the Panthers the 2-1 lead.
MERTZ FOR THE LEAD!
We’re in front, 2-1, after the senior delivers her fifth goal of the season!
💻 ACC Network https://t.co/SqGdxZyVpQ#H2P pic.twitter.com/Va9VRDVeT6
— Pitt Women’s Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 22, 2022
Wrapping up the scoring, Leah Pais continues her surge in the goal totals department with this put back in the 63rd minute.
LEAH PAIS DOES IT AGAIN!
Leah’s sixth goal of the season ups our lead to 3-1!
💻 ACC Network https://t.co/SqGdxZyVpQ#H2P pic.twitter.com/XTbVYoiGJk
— Pitt Women’s Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 22, 2022
Look for post match reaction, more photos and a recap coming from Matt Ralph, who was at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
|
Miami |
5 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
|
Pitt |
18 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
Match Updates
Matt Ralph will be on site reporting and taking photos for PSN. We’ll be providing game updates here.
FINAL: PITT 3, MIAMI 1
The Panthers are now 9-1 after trailing by a goal after allowing a goal on a poor decision by goalkeeper Caitlyn Lazzarini, they come roaring back for three unanswered goals in the final 45 seconds.
3-1 Pitt now off a goal by Leah Pais. Deserving goal; she’s provided a spark since coming on.
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) September 22, 2022
Another free kick from an identical spot and Landy Mertz is there this time to make it 2-1 to the hosts.
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) September 22, 2022
HALF – MIAMI 1, PITT 0
Halftime: Miami leads 1-0 n a Chloe O’Neill goal and six saves by Melissa Dagenais.
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) September 22, 2022
Miami takes the lead on a Chloe O’Neill goal
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) September 22, 2022
An early starting time than what we’re used to…
@Pitt_WSOC is at 6pm
— Dustin Stein (@steind13) September 22, 2022
Preview / PSN Coverage
Pitt looks to continue its winning ways when it plays host to Miami in its Atlantic Coast Conference home opener Thursday at Ambrose Urbanic Field. First touch is slated for 6 p.m.
FINAL: Pitt 4, Virginia Tech 1
Game Notes
STRONG START TO CONFERENCE PLAY
Pitt opened ACC play with a decisive 4-1 triumph over host Virginia Tech to open ACC play last Friday in Blacksburg, Va. The Panthers picked up their first-ever win over the Hokies and have started ACC play with a win for just the second time in program history as a pair of late first-half goals proved to be the difference.
Freshman Katie Zailski scored what proved to be the game winner for her first collegiate goal in the 41st minute to give Pitt a 2-1 lead it never relinquished. The goal came just a minute after the Hokies had evened the score at one-all following a penalty kick conversion. Mackenzie Evers and Sarah Schupanskyadded insurance goals in the 42nd and 48th minutes.
PANTHERS RANKED 18TH IN RPI
The NCAA released its first Rating Percentage Index (RPI) report of the 2022 season on Monday, with Pitt ranked 18th in the country.
STARTING OUT HOT
Pitt’s eight victories in its first nine games marks the best start to a season in program history. With its 6-0 start to the 2022 campaign, the Panthers matched the 2020 Pitt squad for the best start through six games. Pitt has come storming out of the gate each of the last three seasons, following up its 6-0 start in 2020 by rattling off five straight wins to begin the ’21 regular season.
BUILDING THE PROGRAM
The Panthers are now 39-35-1 under the leadership of fifth-year head coach Randy Waldrum. After going 9-22-4 in the first two years of a massive rebuild, Pitt has gone 30-15 over the last two-plus seasons.
OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT
Pitt has outscored the opposition 33-7 so far in 2022. The Panthers currently rank second in NCAA Division I in total points (95) and scoring offense (3.67 points per game) and tied for second total goals (33). Pitt is also tied for fifth in the country in total assists (29) and ranks fifth in both shots per game (22.22) and shots on goal per game (10.89).
The Panthers rolled to a 7-0 victory over Kent State, marking the second time in as many seasons that Pitt has registered a 7-0 win, beating Saint Francis by the same score on Sept. 9, 2021. The victory over Kent State marked the third-straight season in which Pitt has scored seven goals in a game, with a 7-1 win over App State on Sept. 13, 2020, starting the streak. The Panthers have totaled at least six goals in a game five times and have won by at least five goals seven times in the last three years.
FINDING BALANCE
The Panthers have seen 13 different players find the back of the net so far this season. Amanda West leads the way with six goals, with Leah Pais and Sarah Schupansky right behind her with five apiece. Landy Mertz has registered four goals while Ellie Coffield has tallied three. Emily Yaple and Fleming Dean have each cashed in twice. Anna Bout, Mackenzie Evers, Ashton Gordon, Bri Hilsenteger, Samiah Phiri and Katie Zailski have each found the back of the net once.
HOW MAY WE ASSIST?
Eleven different Panthers have distributed assists this season, with Anna Bout leading the way with five. Her 15 career assists are good for the fifth-most in program history. Landy Mertz, Leah Pais and Sarah Schupansky are all tied for second with four apiece. Amanda West and Emily Yaple have each dished out three assists while Samiah Phiri has accounted for two. Ellie Coffield, Ashton Gordon, Keera Melenhorst and Ashley Moon have all logged one helper.
SCOUTING MIAMI
Pitt takes on Miami for the 12th time on Thursday, with the Panthers trailing in the all-time series 4-6-1. The Hurricanes took six of the first nine matchups from Pitt, but the Panthers have come away victorious against Miami by the score of 2-0 in each of the last two meetings (10/18/20 at Miami, 9/26/21 at Pitt).
The Hurricanes are guided by head coach Sarah Barnes, with Miami posting a 19-43-8 record under her watch over the last five seasons. Miami was picked to finish 13th in the ACC’s preseason head coaches poll.
Miami brings a 3-2-2 record into Thursday’s game and has dropped its last two, including a 1-0 setback at Louisville last Saturday.
The Hurricanes have scored just four goals so far on the season but have surrendered only four. Lauren Meeks, Mikayla Tupper, Jackie Koerwitz and Megan Morgan have each found the back of the net for Miami. Melissa Dagenais has started all seven games and played all 630 minutes in goal, registering 35 saves. Her save percentage of .897 is good for 11th in the country.
UP NEXT
Pitt makes the trip to South, Bend, Ind., to square off with Notre Dame on Sunday. First touch is set for 1 p.m. The game is slated to be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
