NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament: Pitt vs Florida St quarterfinal round match set for Friday

Pitt is officially elite — that is they’ve earned their first-ever trip to the Women’s NCAA Division I soccer quarterfinal round following Sunday’s 3-0 triumph over Memphis.

The Panthers will now face ACC foe Florida State for the third time this season, again on the road in Tallahassee, FL, this Friday, November 24, with kickoff slated for 5:30 p.m.

The quarterfinals are set in the DI women’s soccer tournament as teams edge one step closer to the 2023 College Cup in Cary, NC. Here is the full slate of the quarterfinals matchups below, also accessible through the interactive bracket.

The winners will advance to the DI Women’s College Cup, scheduled December 1 and 4, in Cary, NC.

All games listed in Eastern Time and available for live stream on ESPN+

NCAA WOMEN’S SOCCER QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE 

Friday, Nov. 24

• No. 2 Stanford vs. No. 5 Nebarska | 5 p.m. ET
• No. 1 Florida State vs. No. 7 Pitt | 5:30 p.m. ET
• No. 1 BYU vs. No. 3 North Carolina | 8 p.m.  ET

Saturday, Nov. 25

• No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 2 Penn State | 1 p.m. ET

Below are the results from the third round of the DI women’s soccer tournament:

NCAA WOMEN’S SOCCER ROUND OF 16 SCOREBOARD 

Saturday, Nov. 18

• No. 1 BYU 3, No. 5 Michigan State 1

Sunday, Nov. 19

• No. 2 Penn State 4, No. 6 St. Louis 3 (2OT)
• No. 1 Clemson 1, No. 4 Georgia 1 (5-4 PKs)
• No. 5 Nebraska 4, UC Irvine 0
• No. 3 North Carolina 1, No. 2 Texas Tech 0
• No. 2 Stanford vs No. 6 Mississippi State, 4 p.m.
• No. 1 Florida State 5, No. 5 Texas 0
• No. 7 Pitt 3, No. 6 Memphis,0

ROUND OF 16 PREVIEW 

The Pitt Panthers women’s soccer team continues dancing in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, following its thrilling 4-3 win at Arkansas on Friday, and will be the last match on the Sunday docket of Round of 16 matches when they take on Memphis, another team that pulled off an win as a lower seed.

We will have more coverage of Pitt’s match up vs Memphis, while PSN’s Rachael Kriger sat down with Pitt Head Coach Randy Waldrum, and midfielder Ellie Coffield for an interview yesterday, shared on Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast.

Third-round matchups for the tournament are set in place, with one match having been played, as  BYU defeated Michigan State, 3-1, on Saturday night.

With a quarter-final spot on the line, here is the full slate of the third-round matchups, also accessible through the interactive bracket.

Over in Happy Valley, Penn State is off to an impressive start in the 2023 NCAA Tournament after recording wins over Central Connecticut State and No. 7-seeded, equally legendary program, Santa Clara in the opening rounds. The Nittany Lions registered a 7-0 outing against the Blue Devils and a 2-0 victory over the Broncos, and now face the Atlantic 10 champs, St. Louis, who ended Duquesne’s season in the A10 tournament.

For Penn State, it’s the seventh consecutive Sweet 16 that they’ve reached under long-time coach, Erica Dambach.

it’s still sweet.#WeAre pic.twitter.com/kE0U1w6CTr

— Penn State Women’s Soccer (@PennStateWSOC) November 18, 2023

Players of note from the Pittsburgh region who are still playing include Stanford’s Mia Bhuta (Mt. Lebanon) and North Carolina’s Tessa Dellarose (Brownsville).  Bhuta started in her role as holding midfield in No. 1 Stanford’s first two wins in the opening two rounds (3-0 wins vs Pepperdine and No. 16 South Carolina).  Dellarose has been a key part of UNC’s rotation, coming off the bench for both of the Tar Heels wins to get to the Sweet 16 (3-1 vs Towson, 1-0 vs Alabama).

NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament field filled with Western PA talent

On Pitt’s side of the bracket, No. 1 Florida State will face a challenge from No. 5 Texas.  If Pitt can defeat Memphis, they’ll face the winner of that match.

All games listed in Eastern Time and available for live stream on ESPN+

John Krysinsky

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).