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Pitt’s goal scoring surge continues in 7-0 rout of Kent State

Photo courtesy Pitt Athletics

Pitt women’s soccer team (5-0-0) remained perfect to start the 2022 season by rolling to a 7-0 victory over Kent State (0-3-1) Wednesday at Ambrose Urbanic Field. The win saw Amanda West set the program’s all-time assists record as she tallied the 21st of her career while Sarah Schupansky tied for the third-most points in a single game in program history with seven after scoring two goals and distributing three assists.

The Panthers have opened a season 5-0 for the third year in a row and have outscored the opposition 22-1 through five games, including a 19-1 count over the last three. Wednesday’s win over the Golden Flashes featured goals by six different players and multi-point efforts by four.

“I’ve been really happy about the last few weeks, especially after a slow start offensively,” head coach Randy Waldrum said. “It’s nice to see the depth can come in and provide some of these goals, too. These last few games we’ve been scoring in bundles; it’s not coming from just one or two players.”

Three of Pitt’s goals came in the first 45 minutes play. Landy Mertz opened the scoring with her third goal in three matches, scoring in the sixth minute from the bottom right of the goal off her right foot as both West and Schupansky assisted.

 

Schupansky scored five minutes later from the bottom center of the goal off an assist by Anna Bout to make it 2-0.

Pitt’s lead swelled to 3-0 in the 39th minute as Emily Yaple found the back of the net for her second time this season, taking a feed from Samiah Phiri and scoring from the bottom left of the goal off her right foot.

Ellie Coffield made it a four-goal advantage in the 66th minute as Schupansky provided another assist on a goal that came from the bottom left. Coffield’s goal marked her second in as many matches.

The Panthers added three more goals in the final 10 minutes of play. Bout scored from the top left on an assist from Schupansky in the 80th minute. Schupansky scored again in the 85th minute, this time off an assist from Yaple. Finally, West contributed the seventh and final goal in the 88th minute from the bottom right of goal.

 

“We’re focused on being more clinical around the goal,” Waldrum said of his team’s offensive outburst the last three games. “We’re setting a good foundation for us.”

Caitlyn Lazzarini, Ellie Breech and Gabriella Neibart combined for the shutout in goal, with Lazzarini manning the net for the first half and Breech and Neibart both seeing action in the second.

“Caitlyn’s been really good for us in goal all season. She’s been playing really well for us,” said Waldrum. “To have two backups like Ellie and Gabby, when they get their opportunities to come in, they’ve kept clean sheets and done well. It all starts with your goalkeeping, but I’m really happy with the back four. We expect Ashton Gordon and Hailey Davidson and Athalie Palomo to be good because they have that experience and they’re top-level players. But also, to see Katie Zailski come in as a freshman and start and play as well as she has, Ellie Coffield has been back there some, Ashley Moon has been playing really well now. We still have Mackenzie Edwards who can play back there, and Haylee Mersereau has come in and shown as some good quality in there. We like what we have in the back.”

UP NEXT
Pitt closes out the third week of the regular season by playing host to Cincinnati on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field. The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $5 per game or purchased on gameday for $8 at the Petersen Sports Complex Ticket Office.

PITT NOTES

  • 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 5-2-2 all-time against Kent State, snapping a four-game winless streak against the Golden Flashes.
  • The Panthers are now 36-34-1 under the leadership of fifth-year head Randy Waldrum. After going 9-22-4 in the first two years of a massive rebuild, Pitt has gone 27-14 over the last two-plus seasons.
  •  Pitt has scored at least seven goals in a game each of the last three seasons. The Panthers have totaled at least six goals five times and has won by at least five goals seven times in the last three years.

 

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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).

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