Panthers Continue Homestand with Niagara
10/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
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PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men’s soccer team (5-4-1, 0-4-0 ACC) continues its five game homestand on Tuesday, Oct. 6, as the Panthers welcome non-conference foe Niagara (1-8-2, 0-2-1 MAAC) for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Pitt and the Purple Eagles will clash for the eighth time in program history on Tuesday. The Panthers lead the all-times series 4-1-2, with the first game dating back to 1988. The past two meetings, both of which were in Pittsburgh in 2012 and 2014, resulted in a 1-1 draw.
LAST TIME OUT
Pitt fell to No. 2 North Carolina on Friday, 2-0, after a scoreless 85 minutes. The Panthers held the Tar Heels to just four shots in the first half but then fired 12 shots in the second, while senior goalkeeper Dan Lynd made five total saves. UNC’s Colton Storm and Tucker Hume netted the two goals in the 85th and 87th minutes, securing the Tar Heels’ victory.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Tuesday’s game will be the third home game in a row for the Panthers as they make their way through the five game homestand. The 2015 schedule features 11 total home games at Ambrose Urbanic and just six away matches. After completing six home games thus far, the Panthers have walked away with four wins and have only lost two. Pitt is 1-2-1 on the road after falling to ACC-foes Boston College and Syracuse. Upcoming marquee home matchups include Virginia Tech on Oct. 9, and Duke on Oct. 24, for Senior Night.
PANTHERS LAND AMONG TOP TEAMS
In the first NCAA RPI report last week, Pitt found itself among the top teams in the country coming in at 35th. The Panthers 2015 slate features some of the nation’s top teams including recent College Cup champions Virginia (2014), Notre Dame (2013), and North Carolina (2011). The conference was well represented in the report as ACC teams clinched the top four spots (No. 1 Wake Forest, No. 2 North Carolina, No. 3 Clemson, No. 4 Notre Dame). The 12 ACC teams have the best RPI average (20.6) as the second-best is the Pac-12 with 68.7.
MAKING HIS MARK
Senior captain and goalkeeper Dan Lynd continues to add to his prolific career at Pitt. Below is a snapshot of where Lynd’s career numbers rank in program history:
- 1st – Goalie Minutes Played (4,011)
- 1st – Goals Against Average (1.66)
- T-4th – Shutouts (14)
- 8th – Saves (205)
- 8th – Save Percentage (.735)
SCOUTING THE PURPLE EAGLES
Niagara comes to Pittsburgh after tying with MAAC foe Quinnipiac on Oct. 3, 1-1, in double overtime. The Purple Eagles are still searching for their first road victory as they have lost six away games and tied one. Niagara is led by freshman forward Alex Dimitriu who has 11 points after recording five goals and one assist this year. In goal, sophomore Joel Gerberich has appeared in nine games for the Purple Eagles, making 30 saves and earning one shutout.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will host Virginia Tech on Oct. 9, for a Friday night ACC matchup. The 7 p.m. kickoff will be Pitt’s fourth consecutive home game. The homestand will close with a visit from Cleveland State on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
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