University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt to Face No. 6 Clemson on the Road
10/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
PITTSBURGH – After splitting its last two games at home, the Pitt women’s soccer team (10-3-1, 4-2-0 ACC) will travel to face No. 6 Clemson (10-2-1, 4-2-0 ACC) on Friday, Oct. 16, at Riggs Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Pitt enters the season’s final stretch hungry for signature wins to adorn its postseason resume. Last year, a total of six ACC teams received bids to join the NCAA Tournament field.
The Panthers are 0-2-0 all-time against the Tigers, falling in their last meeting, 2-1, at home on Oct. 26, 2014. Pitt’s last trip to face Clemson on the road came in the form of a 2-0 defeat on Sept. 19, 2013.
Friday’s game will be the Tigers’ Senior Night, as well as Breast Cancer Awareness Night.
Next up, the Panthers will travel to face Duke on Thursday, Oct. 22, for a 7 p.m. contest shown live on ESPN3 from Koskinen Stadium.
NOTES & INFORMATION
LAST TIME OUT...
Pitt took a tough home loss to Boston College, 2-1, last Thursday after Hayley Dowd dialed up a strike from 16 yards in the 67th minute to give the Eagles the lead late. The Panthers were quick to rebound, however, knocking off Syracuse on Sunday, 1-0, in overtime. Sophomore Hanna Hannesdottir converted a penalty kick attempt in the 99th minute to deliver the win.
ON THE ATTACK
The Panthers improvement on the attacking front has placed them among the national leaders in a few offensive statistical categories. Through 14 games, Pitt ranks fourth nationally and leads the ACC in shots on goal per game (9.36). In addition, the Panthers rank 24th in the nation and sixth among ACC teams in shots per game (17.43).
OFFENSIVE HARMONY
Freshman Jarena Harmon is putting together a tremendous rookie campaign. Apart from leading the team in goals (7) and points (15), she ranks among the nation’s top freshmen offensively. Harmon’s seven goals tie for ninth in the country among Division I freshmen and make her the ACC’s leading freshman scorer. Her goals have also been significant, tallying three game-winning scores to place her in a tie for third in the ACC. Only six freshmen in the country have posted more game-winners.
FORT FRANCIS
Rock-solid junior goalkeeper Taylor Francis has recorded 1307:31 in net this season – the only keeper to record minutes for the Panthers – and has started 38 consecutive matches in net dating back to 2013. Her seven shutouts on the year rank first in the ACC, while her 49 saves check in at fourth. Francis is currently on pace to post the second best single season goals against average in Pitt history (0.89). With four regular season matches to play in 2015 and her senior season ahead of her, Francis has climbed into the top-five in nearly all goalkeeping statistical categories in Pitt history. Here is where she ranks:
- 4th – Career saves (207)
- 5th – Career save percentage (.775)
- 5th – Career saves per game (5.05)
- 3rd – Career goals against average (1.54)
- 3rd – Career shutouts (10)
- 3rd – Career wins (16)
- 4th – Career goalie minutes played (3,501)
- T-4th – Career starts (38)
ALL-TIME ARVAS
Senior forward Roosa Arvas’ offensive impact over her four years has been historic. After she eclipsed the program record for career points versus NC State, here is a snapshot of where she sits in several of the Pitt women’s soccer record book’s offensive categories:
- 1st - Career points (54)
- 1st - Career assists (20)
- T-2nd - Game-winning goals (8), leader is Ashley Habbel (9)
- 4th - Career goals (17), leader is Ashley Cuba (23)
Despite the Panthers’ seeming youth, so far it’s been the first-year players making some of the biggest offensive contributions. Of Pitt’s 77 total points to date, 37 of those have come from true freshmen (48%). Four freshmen have already found the back of net. Kaylee Rabatin’s four assists lead all freshmen and are tied for second-most on the team.
WEEKLY AWARDS
Sophomore forward Taylor Pryce netted two game-winning goals to procure ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 29. The Thornhill, Ontario, native was also named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Team of the Week and was selected as First National Bank’s Female Athlete of the Week. Junior goalkeeper Taylor Francis received the ECAC’s DI Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 30. The awards were the first weekly conference nods for the Panthers since 2012.
POLL POSITIONS
Pitt’s record eight game win streak garnered national attention, including by the NSCAA Coaches Poll, in which the Panthers received a vote to join the national top-25 rankings. The team also moved to 10th into the NSCAA’s Southeast Region rankings on Sept. 29 – a group that includes the top three teams in the nation and two of the last three national champions.
CLARITY ON CLEMSON
The Tigers enter Friday’s matchup ranked sixth in the country, winning three of the last five with their only losses coming at the hands of some of the nation’s best in Florida State and Virginia. Last time out, the Tigers edged then No. 9 Virginia Tech, 3-2, on a late goal in the 84th minute. Offensively, Clemson shares the load with 12 players notching goals on the year. Catrina Atanda leads the team with 10 points. Kailen Sheridan has recorded 13 games in goal this season, making 46 saves en route to a lowly .91 goals against average.
THE ROAD AHEAD
The Pitt women’s soccer team enters its 20th season of competition this year. Pitt faces an 18-game schedule, including eight home games. The slate features a number of high-caliber opponents, including six 2014 NCAA Tournament teams and five among the NSCAA’s preseason top-25 rankings. Three games will be broadcast on ESPN3: 9/24 vs. Wake Forest, 10/8 vs. Boston College, and 10/22 at Duke.
UP NEXT...
Pitt will travel to take on Duke on Thursday, Oct. 22, in a 7 p.m. matchup to be broadcast live on ESPN3 from Koskinen Stadium.
