ACC Women’s Soccer
Pitt (7-1-0) vs Virginia Tech (6-1-1)
September 16, 2022 | Thompson field. 5 pm
Live stream: ACC Network More | Match statistics
Preview
The Panthers open their 2022 schedule when they travel to Blacksburg, Va., to take on Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference division.
The ACC will miss the season without Amanda West, who announced earlier this week that she has a knee injury, although she plans to return for a fifth season in 2023.
Pitt’s leading scorer Amanda West has announced a season-ending knee injury. He plans to return in 2023
Pitt won seven of its first eight games to finish with a strong non-conference record for the second year in a row. The Panthers have aspirations of making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and need to pick up wins in ACC conference play.
So games like this against Virginia Tech will be important.
The Panthers opened their 2022 schedule with a 3-2 win at Ambrose City Field in Independence last Sunday, making it a perfect 4-0 at home in non-conference action. After losing 1-0 in the 11th minute Leah Pais She scored her second goal in 3 games and scored in the 30th and 38th minutes to keep the Panthers scoreless. Ellie Coffield He added an insurance goal with a free kick in the 55th minute.
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Hot out
With a 6-0 start to the 2022 campaign, the Panthers tied the 2020 Pitt team for the best start to a season in program history. Pitt in 2011. Following a 6-0 start in 2020, he has rattled off five straight wins in each of the past three seasons.
Building the program
The Panthers are now 38-35-1 under the fifth-year head coach. Randy Waldrum. After going 9-22-4 in the first two years of a major rebuild, Pitt has gone 29-15 over the last two-plus seasons.
Abominable attack
Pitt has outscored its opponents 29-6 so far in 2022. The Panthers beat Kent State 7-0 while Pitt went 7-0 while also beating St. Francis. Scored September 9, 2021. The win over Kent State marked Pitt’s third-straight season with seven goals in a game, beginning on September 13, 2020 with a 7-1 win over Upstate. The Panthers have scored at least 6 goals in a game five times and have won by at least five goals seven times in the last three years.
The Panthers are currently second in NCAA Division I in total points (83) and tied for first in total goals (29) and second in scoring (3.62 points per game). Pitt ranks third in the nation in total sacks (25) and is fifth in both tackles per game (23.12) and 10.75 tackles per game.
Finding balance
The Panthers have seen 11 different players find the back of the net so far this season. Amanda West He leads the way with six goals. Leah Pais With five behind her. In the year Five of Pace’s goals in 2022 have come in the last three games. Sarah Shupansky He is third on the team in scoring with four goals. Landy Mertz And Ellie Coffield They are tied for fourth place. Emily Apple And Fleming Dean Each of them deposited money twice. Ashton Gordon, Brie Hilsenter, Samiah Fri And Anna Boot Each found the back of the net once.
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Eleven different Panthers have distributed assists this season, with Anna Boot Leading by five. Her 15 career assists are good for fifth in program history. Amanda West, Sarah Shupansky, Leah Pais, Landy Mertz And Emily Apple They are all tertiary related. Samiah Fri While two assists are counted Ellie Coffield, Ashton Gordon, Melenhorst turn And Ashley Moon They all put in one helper.
Scouting Virginia Tech
Pitt and Virginia Tech will meet for the ninth straight time, with the Panthers still looking for their first win over the Hokies as the hosts enter Friday’s contest with a 7-0-1 advantage. The Panthers lost to the Hokies at home last year, 2-1, on Oct. 2, 2021. Pitt’s last trip to Blacksburg resulted in a 2-0 loss on October 4, 2020.
Virginia Tech is led by Charles “Chugger” Adair, who led the Hokies for 12 seasons and owns a record of 144-69-23. The Hokies have posted winning records in 10 of the last 11 seasons.
The Hokies were picked to finish ninth in the ACC preseason head coaches poll. Virginia Tech is 6-1-1 in non-conference play, most recently beating Northern Colorado 5-2 at home last Sunday.
Virginia Tech boasts a top-15 offensive attack nationally, tied for 10th in total goals (23) and 13th in total points (67). The Hokies, led by Torey Powell and Taylor Price, are ranked No. 5 among ACC players. Lauren Hargrove has started six of seven games for Virginia Tech, posting 19 saves and three shutouts.
Next
Pitt will play its first ACC home game of the 2022 season against Miami next Thursday at Ambrose City Field. The first touch is set for 6 pm and the event will be telecast live on ACC Network.
