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Pitt displays scoring talent in 6-0 rout of Syracuse

Pitt women’s soccer team continues to blossom into one of the nation’s most explosive scoring units, putting its scoring talent on display in a 6-0 rout of ACC rival Syracuse on Saturday afternoon in Upstate New York.

Goals poured it from Ellie Coffield, Samiah Phiri, Landy Mertz, Sarah Schupansky, and the program’s all-time leading scorer, Amanda West added a brace.

With the win, Pitt improves to 11-2-1, overall, and 5-1-1 in the ACC, as they jump ahead of North Carolina, into fourth place.  The top six teams in ACC will enter the league’s postseason tournament.

Following a few dangerous chances, one coming off the foot of a stinging Landy Mertz strike, it was Coffield who got things going in the 15th minute, with another goal from distance

It was Coffield’s fourth goal of the season.

A short while later, after Pitt failed to convert a penalty kick opportunity, Samiah Phiri was on the receiving end of a well-placed Sarah Schupansky cross from the right side.

Amanda West got into the act late in the first half, making a run to the near post following a Keera Melenhorst cross from the right endline.

The Panthers’ were dominant in the first half, with huge advantages in shots (16-2), shots on goal (8-2), and corners (5-0).

In the second half, the Panthers continued to push for more goals, with the team’s leading scorer, Schupansky, delivering a perfectly delivered ball from the left edge of the box, into the right side of goal.

Schupansky now leads the Panthers with 10 goals.

Landy Mertz  would convert a Schupansky low cross into the goal box for the Panthers’ fifth goal.

It was fitting that West, the senior would cap the scoring, with her second on the day with a brilliant individual effort that started with her back to the goal, and a few Orange defenders that needed some evasion.

The Panthers goal scoring totals continue to impress, as they’ve outscored its competition 39-13 this season.

Phiri is second to Schupansky with eight goals, while West, now also has eight to add to her total of 47 goals in her career at Pitt.  Mertz has three goals and seven assists this season.   In addition to her double-digit goals, Schupansky also leads the team with nine assists.

Pitt returns to action next when they travel to Tallahassee, FL, to take on top ranked and ACC leading Florida State (7 pm kickoff).

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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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Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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