NCAA Women’s Soccer
FINAL: Pitt 7, St. Francis (PA) 0
Game Summary
Pitt women’s soccer team rebounded from its lone loss of the season with a resounding 7-0 win against St. Francis (PA).
Former Norwin High School standout Emily Harrigan scored her first two goals as a Panther to get the scoring barrage going.
In addition, Kate McKay, McKenzie Evers tacked on first half goals, while Sarah Schupansky, Emily Yaple and Leah Pais contributed to Pitt’s second half scores.
The Panthers improved to 6-1 overall for the season. They return to action on Sunday, when they host Towson at 1 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harrigan’s first came in the 15th minute. Hailey Davidson sent a cross into the box, and Sarah Schupansky headed it over to Harrigan for the one-touch shot.
The next Harrigan goal came not even two minutes later on another one-touch shot. Ellie Coffield put in a tight pass in the box to Landy Mertz, who tapped it over to Harrigan in the middle of the box.
Kate McKay scored the third goal and her first of the season in the 38th minute. After a corner kick was headed down right in front of McKay, she kicked the bouncing ball in the right side of the net from a few yards out.
Krystyna Rytel converted a free kick a few yards out from the top of the box in the 42nd minute, which hit off the cross bar and over the goal line for her second goal of the season. (Goal was originally given to Mackenzie Evers, who headed in the apparent rebound in afterwards).
Schupansky opened the scoring in the second half with her fourth goal of the season. In the 48th minute, she one-touched a shot from point-blank range with the inside of her right foot on a cross from the deep right side of the box from Mertz, who tracked down a cross from Harrigan.
Emily Yaple shot deflected off a defender in the 58th minute for her third of the year. Anna Bout and Davidson picked up assists.
Leah Pais recorded the last goal with 33 seconds left, making nifty moves to evade two defenders from midfield and in the box to put a shot in the left side of the net for her second of the season.
Pitt finished a three-game homestand and nonconference play with Senior Day Sunday against Towson at 1 p.m.
NEWS AND NOTES
- The margin of victory, total points (23), assists (nine), shots (41) were the second-biggest marks for a single-game in program history.
o 11-1 at Wagner, Sept. 11, 1998: 33 points and 11 assists.
o 46 shots against Saint Francis, Aug. 21, 2015
- The Panthers tied for the second-most goals from a 7-1 win at App State last year on Sept. 13.
- The 19 shots on goal were tied for the fourth-most (Robert Morris, Oct. 26, 2001).
- The 11 corner kicks tied for the seventh-most (done nine other times).
- The four goals in the first half were the most in any half this season.
- Just seven games into the season, Pitt is now tied for the third-most points (84) and the second-most assists (32) and fourth-most goals (26) in a single-season in program history.
- Five of Pitt’s six victories have been 3+ goal shutouts.
- Katherine Robinson (4-1) made one save playing just the first half.
- Madison Vukas made one save after starting the second half, and Gabriella Neibart preserved the shutout for the last 8:19 in net.
- Schupansky became the second Panther to reach double-digit points, tying for the team lead with Amanda West at 12.
Gameday Updates
Look for lineups to be posted below along with game updates/highlights throughout the evening.
90′ — PITT 7, SFU 0
Leah Pais with the final goal in the final minute!
58′ — PITT 6, SFU O
It’s Emily Yaple’s turn…
.@YapleEmily turned ⏫ the power 🔋 to get the shot off the deflection into the net!
💻: https://t.co/ChB4yr5cQh#H2P pic.twitter.com/mBfIEJKZLH
— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 10, 2021
48′ — PITT 5, SFU 0
Sarah Schupansky with another goal
42′ — PITT 4, SFU 0 — PITT GOAL
Krystyna Rytel’s free kick hits under the bar, and McKenzie Evers puts in the rebound!
38′ — PITT 3, SFU 0 — PITT GOAL
Kate McCay with the goal.
29′ — PITT 2, SFU 0 — PITT GOAL
Harrigan with the brace!
Harrigan with the brace already! #H2P https://t.co/6sq8kCHSZU
— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) September 9, 2021
Put it in the scrap 📕. @EmilyyHarrigan first goal as a Panther‼️
💻: https://t.co/ChB4yr5cQh#H2P pic.twitter.com/d3kHgrlSCu
— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 9, 2021
15′ | No. 20 Pitt 1, St. Francis 0 Panthers on the board first! On a
Tonight's 1️⃣1️⃣@hilsenteger14 makes her first collegiate start! @EmilyyHarrigan also get her first start as a Panther!#H2P pic.twitter.com/lzMLAyeOV4
— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 9, 2021
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Preview / Pitt Game Notes
THE SERIES
- Pitt leads the all-time series 4-1-1 with a goals aggregate of 14-7.
- The Panthers have won all three matchups at home by a combined score of 11-4.
- Pitt has only faced the local school once in the last 16 years, a 1-1 tie on Aug. 21, 2015 in the Steel City Classic hosted by Duquesne.
- Pitt is 7-1-1 against current Northeast Conference schools: Wagner 2-0-0, Sacred Heart 1-0-0 and Saint Francis 4-1-1.
IN THE POLLS
- Pitt is No. 20 in the United Soccer Coaches’ Poll for the second-straight week with 207 points, which was announced Tuesday.
- Making their debut in the rankings in the 2021 season last week, the Panthers received the most points (53) outside of the top-25 in the previous week.
- Pitt is one of five ACC teams in the poll: No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 UNC, No. 3 Virginia and No. 5 Duke with Clemson (30) and Notre Dame (11) also receiving votes.
- Pitt is also tabbed No. 22 in the TopDrawerSoccer Poll after being slotted at 21 and 23 the previous weeks.
- The Panthers have received votes outside in the College Soccer News Poll the last two weeks.
- Last year, Pitt earned its first ranking in the United Soccer Coaches’ Poll in program history, debuting at No. 12 in the first poll of the season on Sept. 22 and then No. 14 in the next week’s poll.
- The only other time in program history Pitt was ranked was in 2009, selected No. 25 by Soccer America after starting 4-0.
- Head coach Randy Waldrum has led five teams to be nationally ranked: Tulsa men’s and women’s soccer, Baylor and Notre Dame in addition to Pitt.
BOUNCING BACK
- Pitt looks to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season 1-0 to No. 6 TCU Sunday at home.
- The Panthers played an even first half against the Horned Frogs with the same amount of shots (eight) and corner kicks (three).
- Katherine Robinson tied a career-high with seven saves.
- Pitt was without Amanda West.
HISTORIC OFFENSE
- The Panthers have displayed a high-powered offense to start the season 3+ goals scored in all but one game.
- In the nation, Pitt ranks fifth in assists per game (4.00), 11th in points per game (10.33), 22nd in scoring offense (3.17 goals per game), 27th in shots per game (18.17) and 37th in shots on goal per game (9.50).
- Just a third of the way through the regular season, the team already ranks among the best ever in program history for single-season stats:
- Tied for sixth in total assists (24).
- Eighth in total points (62).
- Tied for 14th in goals (19).
STOUT DEFENSE
- While getting attention for its offense, Pitt has featured an impressive defense.
- The Panthers have allowed just three goals in six games this season with an average of 9.5 shots and 3.5 shots on goal per game.
- In the nation, Pitt ranks 42nd in goals against average (.500).
- The team is on pace to set the program record for single-season goals against average (0.57 in 2009).
- The squad is tied for the eighth-most shutouts (four) in a single-season.
SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS
- After dropping its first two games at then-No. 7 Clemson (8-0) and Duquesne (3-1), the Red Flash have won its last two games at home against Akron (3-2) and Robert Morris (2-1).
- Saint Francis was picked fifth in the Northeast Conference Coaches’ Preseason Poll.
- Not playing last season due to COVID, Saint Francis features 18 freshmen and sophomore playing their first collegiate season.