ORLANDO, Fla.-The Pittsburgh Panthers women's soccer team opens their eighth season Saturday at Central Florida University. On Monday, Jacksonville will travel to Central Florida to play Pittsburgh.
Coming off of a 4-9 season (0-6 in Big East), first year Head Coach Sue-Moy Chin returns 19 letterwinners including goalkeeper Jamie Pelusi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Hampton), the Big East leader in saves per-game (7.32), midfielder Erin Hills (Burke, Va./James W. Robinson Secondary), last years second leading scorer, and forward Netta Agredano (Tuscon, Ariz./Tucson High Magnet), who ranks second in Panthers? history for all-time career goals. In addition, the Panthers add five freshman and University of Wisconsin transfer Toni Koram (Ann Arbor, Mich./Ann Arbor) to the 2003 squad.
WINNING STREAK: The Panthers have won four consecutive home openers from 1999-2002.
PITTSBURGH vs. CENTRAL FLORIDA: This will be the second meeting between the Panthers and the Golden Knights. Pittsburgh won their first meeting 1-0 in overtime during the 1999 season. The Golden Knights were the 2002 Atlantic Sun Champions and ranked No. 6 nationally in total offense.
PITTSBURGH vs. JACKSONVILLE: This will be the first meeting between the Panthers and the Dolphins. Jacksonville was 15-4-2 in 2002 and return seven starters from that team. The Dolphins are led by senior Inge Heiremans, who ranked first on the team last season for goals scored with 14.
