Blacksburg, Va. – The Pitt women’s soccer team (8-1-0, 1-0-0 ACC) got off to a strong start in Atlantic Coast Conference play with a decisive 4-1 road victory over Virginia Tech (6-2-1, 0). -1-0 ACC) Friday at Thompson Field.
“I am very proud of this team,” said the head coach Randy Waldrum he said. “We scored four goals today, both in our formation and in our team.”
Pitt’s eight wins in the first nine games marks the best start to a season in program history. The Panthers won their first game against the Hokies and just the second time in program history that a pair of first-half goals proved the difference in ACC play.
“They (Virginia Tech) have been the Eagles the last two years, so it was great to finally get a convincing win on the road,” Waldrum said.
Landy Mertz She got the Panthers on the board quickly and Pete scored her fourth goal of the year with a right-footed shot down the middle for a 1-0 lead. Sarah Shupansky Giving help.
Pitt made a good save and maintained a one-goal lead Caitlin Lazzarini In 21 for Virginia Tech’s Torey Powell on a good scoring opportunitySt minute.
The first half saw a flurry of goals and when the dust settled, Pitt was up 3-1.
Emmale McCarter scored a free kick in the 40’s to tie the game for the Hokies.Th minute.
The score was short-lived, however, as a freshman Katie Zielski She scored her first collegiate goal for the Panthers less than a minute later. She scored a goal in the lower right corner. Ellie Coffield Helping. A minute later, Pitt’s lead increased to 3-1. Leah Pais He is acknowledged for his help.
“It was great to see. Katie Zielski Waldrum scored her team’s first goal. It was a good response to the penalty goal. Then to see Mackenzie Evers Come and score me, (associate head coach) Ben (Waldrum) was amazing working with her as well.
Pittsburgh natives Shupansky and Mertz were brought back to Pitt in 48Th In the minute Shupanski scored with her left foot from the top right, assisted by Mertz.
That was all the Panthers needed as Pitt blanked Virginia Tech in the final 42 minutes.
Virginia Tech outshot Pitt 19-15, but the Panthers held a crucial 12-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Mertz led Pitt with four goals, including a game-high three. Both of Coffield’s shots were on goal, while Pace took three shots off the bench in total, two of which went on goal. Lazzarini finished with three saves.
“I thought it was a good overall performance, and we controlled the game the way we wanted to, counter-attacking and controlling their serve well for a long time,” Waldrum said.
For Virginia Tech, Natalie Mitchell collected a game-high five hits and was one of five Hokies with multiple shots. Lauren Hargrove made eight saves in the game but allowed all four goals.
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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.
Pete notes
- Pitt is now 39-35-1 in his fifth year at the helm Randy Waldrum. After going 9-22-4 in the first two years of a major rebuild, Pitt has gone 30-15 over the past two-plus seasons.
- Landy Mertz She now has 29 points, 9 goals and 11 assists in her Panther season.
- Sarah Shupansky She scored 12.Th Career goal and she took out 10Th In less than two full seasons at Pitt, she tallied 34 career assists.
- Mackenzie Evers She scored her second goal.
- Assisted by Panther Ninth, Leah Pais She now has 37 points in her Pitt career.
- Ellie Coffield She tallied her second assist of the season and seventh of her career, upping her career tally to 17.
- Caitlin Lazzarini She is now 16-7-0 in her career and has 75 career saves, 25 of which have come this season.
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