Pitt dominates Cleveland State, 6-0, to remain unbeaten

FINAL: PItt 6, Cleveland State 0

Match Stats

From Pitt Athletic Department report 

Pitt women’s soccer team (4-0-0) dominated Cleveland State (1-1-2), 6-0, on Sunday at Krenzler Field. The Panthers kept their perfect start to the 2022 season intact while handing the Vikings their first defeat of the year.

“I was really proud of the performance we put in today,” Randy Waldrum, Pitt said. “Cleveland State played in a very low block and our players figured out ways to break it down.”

Pitt has outscored the opposition 15-1 through four games, including a 12-1 count over the last two contests after posting a 6-1 win over UMass last Thursday. Sunday’s shutout marked Pitt’s third of the year.

The Panthers saw five different players score and three different players hand out assists in a balanced attack.

After scoring Pitt’s sixth and final goal against UMass, Landy Mertz opened the scoring against Cleveland State in the 36th minute, flicking the ball into the net off a free kick from 30 yards out. Ellie Coffield and Ashton Gordon assisted on Mertz’s second goal of the season.

Just over a minute later, Amanda West tallied her team-leading fifth goal of the season when she beat the Cleveland State keeper to the near post on a one-on-out. She increased her program records for career goals (38) and points (96).

Pitt built on its 2-0 halftime advantage by exploding for four more goals in the second half. Freshman Fleming Dean notched her first and second career collegiate goals just seven minutes apart to up the advantage to 4-0. In the 48th minute, she scored on a through ball and shot to the near post. The 55th minute saw her score on a shot off the crossbar that she touched in. Leah Pais assisted on both of Dean’s goals, giving her a team-high three helpers through four games.

“It’s good to see Fleming get her first two collegiate goals, and scoring coming from five different players,” Waldrum said.

The Panthers’ quick strike attack kept it up with two more goals scored just under two minutes apart. Ellie Coffield found the back of the net for the first time this season in the 78th minute, then Sarah Schupansky gave Pitt its sixth and final goal in the 80th when she recorded her first of the year on a free kick from the far right from 20 yards out.

Pitt outshot Cleveland State, 27-5, and has outshot the opposition by a whopping 61-11 over the last two matches.

Caitlyn Lazzarini made one save in the first 45 minutes of play, then was relieved in the second half by Ellie Breech.

Pitt utilized the services off 22 different players after 28 saw playing time in the win over UMass.

“The part I am the most happy about is we are always talking to the team about coming off the bench and making a difference,” Waldrum said. “We are deep and can start various lineups, and everyone came on and made a difference today. When you have that happening consistently, then you have a special team. I really like the tea and the way they all compete and push each other.”

UP NEXT
Pitt takes on the second of three-straight opponents from the state of Ohio and opens a two-game homestand as Kent State comes to town Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tilt at Ambrose Urbanic Field. The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.

PITT NOTES

• Pitt has started a season 4-0 for the third year in a row. The Panthers have not lost a game in the month of August since a 2-1 setback at Dartmouth on Aug. 30, 2019.
• The Panthers improved to 2-0 all-time against Cleveland State and have outscored the Vikings 11-0 over the two matchups. Pitt blanked Cleveland State, 5-0, in the first meeting between the programs on Aug. 26, 2021, at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
• The Panthers are now 35-34-1 under the leadership of fifth-year head Randy Ambrose. After going 9-22-4 in the first two years of a massive rebuild, Pitt has gone 26-14 over the last two-plus seasons.
•  Pitt has scored at least six goals in a match four times and has won by at least five goals six times in the last three years.
• Landy Mertz has now scored seven goals as a Panther while Sarah Schupansky has tallied eight and Ellie Coffield has totaled three.
• Leah Pais has now assisted on eight goals during her Pitt career. Coffield has assisted on six while Ashton Gordon has helped on two.
• Caitlyn Lazzarini has logged a clean sheet of 270 minutes to open the season.