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FINAL: Pitt 2, Towson 0

Photo courtesy Pitt Athletics

NCAA Women’s Soccer 

FINAL: No. 20 Pitt 2, Towson 0

Game Stats 

Summary

On Senior Day, Pitt completed the non-conference portion of its schedule with a strong second half to defeat Towson, 3-0, at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Sunday afternoon.

Freshman forward Sarah Schupansky added a pair of goals, while senior goalkeeper Katherine Robinson made four quality saves for the clean sheet.

While the Panthers did dominate shot attempts, Towson came close a few times as Robinson was outstanding, making four saves including a two-save effort early in the 1st half, then another tremendous turn-back while the match could have gone either way midway through the second half.

The Panthers honored its three senior student-athletes, Celia Lopez, Kate McKay and Robinson., with a ceremony prior to the match.

In a pretty opened-ended match, Pitt (now 7-1-0 overall) dominated the match in most statistical categories, including shots (28-16, 7-4 on target).

Look for a more detailed recap here later in the evening and more on Pitt women’s soccer as they now turn their attention to the ACC schedule, which begins Thursday at Clemson (8 p.m. kickoff).

Gameday Updates 

Look for game updates, highlights and reaction to be posted here on Sunday.  


78′ — PITT 2, Towson 0

It’s a brace for Schupansky!  She draws the foul in the box –and delivers the PK finish.

 

 

67′  — PITT 1, Towson 0

It’s Sarah Schupansky

Assist comes from Anna Bout cross.  Ellie Coffield with the preceding pass on the build-up.

End of 1st half — PITT 0, Towson 0

Pitt outshooting Towson 19-2 (but it’s a rather close 3-2 edge with shots on target)

36′ — Pitt keeper Katherine Robinson makes consecutive diving saves on the Tigers’ first shots of the game.

26′ —  Ellie Coffield just misses on a header right next to the goal line from Sarah Schupansky cross from the left corner. Shots now 16-0 for the Panthers.

PSN’s Pitt Women’s Soccer Coverage 

FINAL: Pitt 7, St. Francis (PA) 0

Pitt take their first loss of the year to No. 6 TCU

Pitt Game Notes 

SENIOR DAY

  • Pitt will honor three seniors in a pregame ceremony: Celia Lopez, Kate McKay and Katherine Robinson.
  • A mix of four-year seniors and transfers, this senior class has helped head coach Randy Waldrum lead this program to success never seen before, including a single-season record 11 wins last season and two-straight years of a top-25 ranking.
  • The three have combined for six ACC Academic Honor Roll sections: three by McKay, two from Lopez and one each for Robinson.
  • Multi-year transfer: McKay (Elon) has made a major impact since coming to Pittsburgh. She has started all but one game as a centerback and amassed a double-digit point total in 2020 with three goals and two assists.
  • Four-year program members: Lopez and Robinson are the only two members left from head coach Randy Waldrum’s first season in 2018. Lopez has accumulated two career goals and five points, while Robinson has been a starting goalkeeper shutouts after a breakthrough season in the fall of 2020 with 11 career wins and six shutouts.

THE SERIES

  • This is the first matchup between the two schools.
  • Pitt is 2-3-0 against current Colonial Athletic Association schools: Delaware 1-0-0, Hofstra 1-1-0, Drexel 0-1-0 and James Madison 0-1-0.

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

  • After suffering its first loss of the season 1-0 to No. 6 TCU last Sunday at home, Pitt produced its biggest home margin of victory in program history with a 7-0 shutout of Saint Francis.
  • 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.
  • Emily Harrigan scored the game’s first two goals for her first collegiate brace and first goal as a Panther.
  • Mackenzie Evers scored her first collegiate goal in the 42nd minute, heading in a rebound off a free kick from Krystyna Rytel that hit the crossbar.

HISTORIC OFFENSE

  • The Panthers have displayed a high-powered offense to start the season with 3+ goals scored in all but one game.
  • In the nation, Pitt ranks fourth in assists per game (4.57), fifth in points per game (12.00), seventh in scoring offense (3.71 goals per game), eighth in shots on goal per game (10.86) and 13th in shots per game (21.29).
  • Just over a third of the way through the regular season, the team already ranks among the best ever in program history for single-season stats:

o   Second in total assists (32).

o   Tied for third in total points (84).

o   Fourth in goals (26).

STOUT DEFENSE

  • While getting attention for its offense, Pitt has featured an impressive defense.
  • The Panthers have allowed just three goals in seven games this season with an average of 8.6 shots and 3.3 shots on goal per game.
  • Pitt ranks in the nation 11th in shutout percentage (.714) and 26th in goals against average (0.428)
  • 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 fifth-most shutouts (five) in a single-season.

HOMETOWN HEROES DEBUT

  • Freshmen and Pittsburgh locals Ellie Coffield and Sarah Schupansky have made instant impacts to start their careers.
  • Schupansky became the second Panther to reach double-digit points, tying for the team lead with Amanda West at 12.
  • She is also tied for the team-lead in assists (four) and is second in goals (four).
  • Coffield is third in points (seven) with two goals and three assists.
  • In the first game of the season, Coffield scored the game-winning goal over Tulsa on her first career shot in the 17th minute with Schupansky getting her first point with the primary assist.
  • Coffield finished with another assist on the final goal against the Golden Hurricane.
  • Coffield scored her first goal at Ambrose Urbanic Field against NJIT.
  • Schupansky scored the golden goal at Oklahoma State for her first collegiate goal, notching the game-winner 30 seconds into overtime, and also assisted on the tying goal in the second half to send the game into overtime.
  • She was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week, and is just the third Panther to earn the award (Amanda West and Leah Pais).
  • Schupansky recorded her first brace against Cleveland State in just 31 minutes played.

 

SCOUTING TOWSON

  • The Tigers have won its last three games (Temple 2-0, at Mount St. Mary’s 3-2 in overtime and George Washington 1-0) for a 4-1-2 record.
  • Picked tied for eighth (out of 10) in the CAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Towson returned all 11 starters and 14 of 15 letterwinners from last season’s team that 2-4-2, 1-3-1 in a spring-only season.
  • Sophomore forward Nia Christiopheris the leading scorer on the team with seven goals and 14 points and was named last week’s College Soccer News’ Player of the Week after scoring a goal against Temple and all three goals against Mount St. Mary’s.

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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