University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Travels to No. 22 Duke on Thursday
10/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
PITTSBURGH - With only three regular season games remaining on the schedule, the Pitt women's soccer team (10-4-1, 4-3-0 ACC) will travel to take on a strong, 22nd-ranked Duke team this Thursday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. at Koskinen Stadium.
The game will be shown live on ESPN3.
The Blue Devils (8-4-4, 2-2-3 ACC) have moved in and out of the NSCAA's national rankings this year, and are currently ranked 22nd after taking down No. 5 North Carolina last Friday, 1-0, for their first win over the Tar Heels in a decade.
Historically, the Panthers are 0-2-0 against Duke with both meetings coming in the last two years. Pitt fell at home, 3-0, in the last matchup between the two on Sept. 19, 2014.
Following Thursday's game, Pitt will visit Virginia Tech on Sunday, Oct. 25, before wrapping up the 2015 regular season against Virginia at home on Oct. 31.
NOTES & INFORMATION
LAST TIME OUT...
Pitt fell to No. 6 Clemson, 2-0, on the road last Friday in a game that saw the Panthers surrender both goals in the first half before clamping down in the second. Despite the result, the game served as another signpost of the program's growth under head coach Greg Miller as the Pitt continued to compete with the ACC, and nation's, best. In last year's meeting of the two teams, the Panthers trailed in shots on goal, 13-3. It was reduced to 6-3 on Friday night as Pitt finished with four corners. The Tigers dominated that category last season, 11-1.
THREE'S COMPANY
With only a few games remaining in the regular season, the ACC's standings have become crowded at the top. Florida State is securely in first, followed by a three-way tie for both second and third. Pitt is currently even with North Carolina and Notre Dame in third place. The top four teams in the conference receive bids to the ACC Women's Soccer Championship in Cary, N.C., on November 6 and 8.
ON THE ATTACK
The Panthers' improvement on the attacking front has placed them among the national leaders in a few offensive statistical categories. Through 15 games, Pitt ranks fifth nationally and leads the ACC in shots on goal per game (9.00). In addition, the Panthers rank 29th in the nation and sixth among ACC teams in shots per game (16.93). This ability to generate offensive opportunities has led Pitt to a 253-167 shot differential, with twice as many on target (134-70), over its opponents on the year.
FORT FRANCIS
Rock-solid junior goalkeeper Taylor Francis has recorded 1397:31 in net this season - the only keeper to record minutes this season for the Panthers - and has started 39 consecutive matches in net dating back to 2013. Her seven shutouts on the year rank first in the ACC, while her 53 saves check in at fourth. Francis is currently on pace to post the second best single season goals against average in Pitt history (0.97). With three regular season matches to play in 2015 and her senior season ahead of her, Francis has climbed into Pitt's top five in nearly all goalkeeping statistical categories. Here is where she ranks:
- 4th - Career saves (211)
- 5th - Career save percentage (.773)
- 5th - Career saves per game (5.02)
- 3rd - Career goals against average (1.55)
- 3rd - Career shutouts (10)
- 3rd - Career wins (16)
- 4th - Career goalie minutes played (3,591)
- T-4th - Career starts (39)
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 13th 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. She ranks among the top 10 freshmen in the nation in that category.
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)
FRESH CONTRIBUTIONS
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 this season. 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.
DUKING IT OUT
After going 0-2-2 through what was arguably the most difficult four-game stretch of its schedule, Duke has rebounded to go 2-0-1 in its last three games. Most recently, the Blue Devils notched an historic win against No. 5 North Carolina on the road last Friday, 1-0. Kayla McCoy leads the team in goals (6) and points (12), closely followed by Taylor Racioppi (4 goals, 11 points). Goalkeeper EJ Proctor has started 14 of 16 games in net and is tied with Taylor Francis for the ACC lead in shutouts with seven.
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.
UP NEXT...
Pitt will visit Virginia Tech on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. before wrapping up the 2015 regular season against Virginia at home on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.
