Pitt women’s soccer dealt another ACC loss, as Duke pulls away with late second half surge

Pitt women’s soccer team (5-6-2, 1-4 ACC) fell to No. 14 Duke, 5–0, on Thursday night at Koskinen Stadium.

The Panthers opened the match with early pressure in the final third, registering a pair of shots on goal from Margaret Wilde.

Despite a strong start, Pitt conceded just before halftime when Duke’s Devin Lynch converted a cross in the closing minutes of the first half, giving the Blue Devils a 1–0 lead at the break.

Duke doubled its advantage in the 67th minute with a near-post finish from Mia Oliaro. The Blue Devils added three more goals, courtesy of Kat Rader and Lauren Martinho and topped off by Mia Minestrella in the final seconds of the match.

Pitt totaled eight shots on the night, including three on goal. Wilde led the team with two shots on target, while Lola Abraham added one. Katie Ellermeyer, Olivia Lee and Lucia Wells each recorded one shot. Duke finished with a 17–8 edge in total shots.

Up next

Pitt will remain in the triangle, facing No. 19 North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m., with live coverage available on ACC Network.

 

 

Pitt WSOC Match Notes

Opening Kick

• Thursday’s matchup marks the start of a challenging weekend for the Panthers, who will take on two top 20 opponents in North Carolina. After facing Duke, Pitt travels to Chapel Hill to meet No. 19 North Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
• The Panthers aim to bounce back after a 4-0 home loss to SMU, seeking their second road win in ACC play.
• Thursday marks the ninth all-time meeting between Pitt and Duke. The Blue Devils lead the series, 7-1, but the Panthers won the most recent meeting, a 2-1 victory.
• Pitt remains undefeated on the road this season (3-0), most recently earning a 2-1 win at Boston College — its first ACC victory of the year.
• Freshman Katie Ellermeyer leads the team with six goals this season, including the game-winner at Boston College. She currently ranks third nationally in total goals among freshmen.
• Senior Margaret Wilde has proved an offensive force for the Panthers, tallying six starts and ranking second on the team in goals scored (3). She contributed a goal and an assist in the win over BC.
• The back line has remained steady all season, anchored by Olivia Lee and Sage Stelzer. Lee leads the team in minutes played with 1,080.
• The contest will be led by a pair of first-year head coaches for both teams.