Preview: No. 7 Pitt, Duquesne excited for Women’s ‘City Game’ at Highmark Stadium featuring 21 former WPIAL players

Pitt and Duquesne women’s soccer teams will meet in the ‘City Game’ on Sunday, and for the first time ever in the series, the match will be played on neutral ground, at Highmark Stadium (3 p.m. kickoff time — also free and open to public)

“It’s going to be a chance to showcase both teams,” Duquesne’s Head Coach Al Alvine said last week on Sounding Off on Soccer podcast.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a great crowd. We’re really looking forward to it.  Hopefully we can play the ‘City Game’ there every year.  Randy (Waldrum), Ben (Waldrum) and the staff there, have done an amazing job. To be where they are at, to be ranked seventh, that’s unprecedented, and for soccer in Pittsburgh. When we’re not playing them, we root for them.”

Both teams are coming off season opening matches on Thursday.

The Dukes began the campaign with a 6-2 win against the newest Division I entry in Western PA, Mercyhurst, on Thursday night at Rooney Field, as junior Margey Brown recorded the 11th hat trick in program history. 

Meanwhile, No. 7 Pitt went on the road to Athens, Georgia, to face No. 14 University of Georgia on Thursday, with neither side able to break through with a goal. 

Still early in the season, both teams are extending squad rotation primarily for match fitness and continued competition for playing time, so chances are, they’ll each use plenty of subs on the Highmark Stadium pitch.

This will be a good thing for those hoping for a showcase of local talent on both rosters.

The Panthers have a total of nine players on their roster who featured in the WPIAL for their high schools. Meanwhile, the Duquesne women’s soccer team has 13 players from the WPIAL.

Realistically, for the ‘City Game,’ the Dukes could roll out an all-WPIAL lineup. The Panthers would be just two players short.

Needless to say, the City Game is going to be important for those 21 players, respectively.

“When you have these local rivalries, the WPIAL kids, it means more to them than it does for, say, Keera from Ottawa,” Waldrum said with a laugh.

“It’ll be a big game for them. We’re going to get Duquesne’s best shot. Al [Alvine]will have his players motivated and ready. They’re not going to just give us the game. If we play and perform to our standard, hopefully we can put some balls in the back of the net.”

Waldrum said that the Panthers have goals in mind — no pun intended — for what they want to accomplish in the match.

“I think for us, I look at it this way: if we can play at that pace and intensity, I think the game will be very uncomfortable for Duquesne,” Waldrum said.

“I think that’s probably the challenge. We have little areas and things we try to do in possession and efficiency in the final third. We have a few targets and goals we have in mind for that game. Right now, when navigating these non-conference games, is to continue to improve and get better. We’ll probably need to play more players in that one. There’s a big difference in playing Georgia than Duquesne. We may have some tired legs and overcome the travel, and that sort of thing.

“I think you’ll see more players get into that game.”

The teams have played 16 times, as the Panthers have won four straight in the series, and hold a 12-4 advantage all-time vs the Dukes.

Alvine pointed out that playing Pitt last year at Ambrose Urbanic Field was a challenge, as the Panthers used every inch of the field to their advantage, in a 6-1 win.

“That’s an example of a team that knows exactly what they’re working with, and knows how to use it,” Alvine said.

The Dukes will be banking on momentum from their season opening win to carry over into the City Game and the rest of the season, as they look to return to the Atlantic 10 postseason with a roster that has just three seniors and a host of experienced juniors and sophomores.

Getting a chance to play at Highmark Stadium will provide plenty of incentive for both sides.

“It’s nice to be able to play on a neutral field, so no one has an advantage,” Duquesne’s Lindsay Krafchick shared with Pittsburgh Soccer Now‘s Zac Weiss on Thursday.

“It’s going to be a tough game, but we’re ready.”

Everyone’s going to @highmarkstadium tomorrow and you should too!

🆚 Duquesne
⏰ 3 PM
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION #H2P pic.twitter.com/FwLfrtaBqP

— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) August 17, 2024

Al is one of the good guys in the business. Great man and coach and has been an icon in Pittsburgh soccer! https://t.co/riGleXVR8M

— Randy Waldrum (@CoachWaldrum) August 15, 2024

Look for PSN’s on-site coverage to come from Highmark Stadium on Sunday from both Rachael Kriger and Zac Weiss