Thursday, September 21
Pittsburgh, Pa.
7:00 PM
Pitt
vs
Virginia Tech
Panthers Return Home, Host Virginia Tech
9/20/2017 3:09:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Pitt Searches for First ACC Win of 2017
PITTSBURGH – Returning to Ambrose Urbanic Field for the first time since Sept. 3, the University of Pittsburgh women's soccer team will host Virginia Tech Thursday evening.
Kickoff with the Hokies is set for 7:03 p.m. as Pitt looks to capture its first ACC win of the season.
HOW TO FOLLOW
PROMOTIONS
The Panthers will "Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer, supporting the Go4theGoal Foundation in its quest to end pediatric cancer. The Panthers will sport yellow shoelaces, obtained through the Go4theGoal Foundation, which donates $4 for each pair purchased.
The first 100 students in attendance at the game will receive a free Pitt soccer scarf. As always, postgame autographs will be available.
Members from the Special Olympics of Western Pennsylvania will be on hand as well, running out with the starting teams and scrimmaging at halftime. This is the third year the Panthers have hosted the Special Olympics.
THE MATCH
Pitt (3-4-2, 0-1-0 ACC) will look to rebound after a 2-0 loss at No. 23 Wake Forest last weekend, as the Panthers return to Ambrose Urbanic Field for the first time since Sept. 3, hosting Virginia Tech. The Panthers have fallen in four straight matches, dropping to 0-1 in ACC play after the loss to the nationally ranked Demon Deacons.
Taylor Pryce leads the Panther offense with three goals, adding two assists for a total of eight points. Vildan Kardesler, Seyla Perez, Mikayla Schmidt, Juelle Love and Christiana Davey have each tallied a goal, with Kardesler adding a pair of assists.
Keeper Katelyn McEachern has earned the start in eight of the team's nine games, playing 705:42 minutes, allowing eight goals and tallying 41 saves. Fellow redshirt freshman goalkeeper Amaia Pena has played in two games, earning the start in one, tallying 155:00 minutes, surrendering three goals and recording 11 saves.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech (6-2-1, 0-1-0 ACC) enters the game in the midst of a two-game losing streak, falling to Tennessee 3-1 Knoxville, before dropping a 3-0 decision to then fourth-ranked Duke to open ACC play Sunday afternoon. Earlier this season, the Hokies were receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Association Poll.
Alani Johnson (3 G) and Allyson Brown (3 G, 1 A) lead the Hokie offense, as nine different players have tallied at least one goal for Virginia Tech. As a team, the Hokies are outscoring their opponents by a margin of 13-8 on the season.
Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn has earned the start in each of Virginia Tech's nine games, totaling 833 minutes, allowing eight goals and recording 30 saves. Zoe Fohall has come off the bench in one outing, seeing 14 minutes of action and recording two saves.
TOUGH STRETCH
Pitt is amidst a tough stretch, facing off against four nationally-ranked opponents in a five-game span. After battling No. 22 Nebraska and No. 23 Wake Forest, the Panthers return home to face a Virginia Tech before traveling to No. 4 Duke and hosting No. 11 Virginia.
The ACC boasts seven schools in the top 25, with an additional program receiving votes. Duke (4), North Carolina (8) and Virginia (11) all rank in the top 15 with Clemson (19), Wake Forest (18) Florida State (23) and North Carolina State (24) rounding out the nationally ranked schools. Notre Dame is the first team out, receiving 61 votes.
THE SERIES
The game will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two teams in a series dating back to the 2002 season. Virginia Tech holds a 3-0-0 all-time advantage over the Panthers, including a mark of 2-0-0 in Pittsburgh. The two teams have met twice in ACC play, as Virginia Tech took a 4-0 victory in Pittsburgh in 2013 and a 4-2 win in Blacksburg, Va., in 2015.
MCEACHERN EARNS ACC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK TITLE
Redshirt freshman keeper Katelyn McEachern was named the ACC's Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22 after tallying a pair of back-to-back shutouts in her collegiate debut. The rookie recorded eight saves in wins over Hofstra and Duquesne and has yet to allow a goal on the season. McEachern played the entirety of both games, tallying 190:42 minutes.
The league honor is the first for a Panther since Taylor Pryce was named the ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29, 2015 after scoring game winning goals against Wake Forest and Louisville.
RETURNING TALENT
Pitt's 2017 squad gets a boost, as both Ashley Moreira and Taylor Pryce will return to the starting lineups, after missing the 2016 season. Both members of the U-20 Canadian National Team, the duo will look to bolster a squad that struggled to find the back of the next last year. Pryce tallied six goals, two of which were game winners, in 2015, adding four in 2014. Moreira, a midfielder, scored once, adding two assists in 2015; additionally, she recorded three helpers in her freshman campaign in 2014.
Two of the team's top-three leaders in minutes played will return from the 2016 season, with Alli Higgs (1581) and Sarah Krause (1479) set to lace up with the starting squad.
FRESH FACES
The 2017 team will debut some fresh faces, led by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Katelyn McEachern, the first new keeper since the 2014 season, as 2016 alum Taylor Francis had held down the position for 50 consecutive matches. As a whole, the Panthers welcome nine new faces with freshmen Alexis Bengel, Kendall Higgs, Juelle Love, Vildan Kardesler, Jess McCoppin, Shana Hardin, Aideen O'Donoghue and Kylie Olexa; and transfer Megan Herr.
MEET YOUR CAPTAINS
A trio of Canadians will lead the way for the 2017 Pitt women's soccer season, as redshirt junior Taylor Pryce and seniors Ashley Moreira and Emma Pozzulo will captain the squad. Both Pryce and Moreira will serve as first-year captains, while Pozzulo gets her third season as a captain underway.
THE SCHEDULE
The regular season will get underway at the Petersen Sports Complex on Aug. 18 as the Panthers welcome Hofstra, before taking to the road for three-straight away battles with Duquesne (Aug. 20), Cincinnati (Aug. 24) and Xavier (Aug. 27). The Panthers will close out the month on Aug. 30, welcoming Detroit.
Illinois State visits Sept. 3, as Pitt will travel to Kent State (Sept. 7) and Nebraska (Sept. 10) before ACC play gets underway. A Sept. 15 visit to Wake Forest gets league play going, as Pitt will host Virginia Tech (Sept. 21) and travel to Duke (Sept. 24) to wrap up September action.
Three consecutive home games follow as the Panthers host perennial powerhouse Virginia (Oct. 1), followed by Syracuse (Oct. 5) and NC State (Oct. 8). A trip to Louisville (Oct. 13) will follow, with visits to Miami (Oct. 19) and Florida State (Oct. 22) wrapping up regular season road play. The 2017 regular season will come to a close on Oct. 26 when the Panthers host Boston College.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will continue their tough stretch, traveling to No. 4 Duke (Sept. 24) before hosting No. 5 Virginia (Oct. 1).
#H2P | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Kickoff with the Hokies is set for 7:03 p.m. as Pitt looks to capture its first ACC win of the season.
HOW TO FOLLOW
- The game can be seen live on the ACC Network Extra via Watch ESPN or the WatchESPN app
- Live stats will also be available here
PROMOTIONS
The Panthers will "Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer, supporting the Go4theGoal Foundation in its quest to end pediatric cancer. The Panthers will sport yellow shoelaces, obtained through the Go4theGoal Foundation, which donates $4 for each pair purchased.
The first 100 students in attendance at the game will receive a free Pitt soccer scarf. As always, postgame autographs will be available.
Members from the Special Olympics of Western Pennsylvania will be on hand as well, running out with the starting teams and scrimmaging at halftime. This is the third year the Panthers have hosted the Special Olympics.
THE MATCH
Pitt (3-4-2, 0-1-0 ACC) will look to rebound after a 2-0 loss at No. 23 Wake Forest last weekend, as the Panthers return to Ambrose Urbanic Field for the first time since Sept. 3, hosting Virginia Tech. The Panthers have fallen in four straight matches, dropping to 0-1 in ACC play after the loss to the nationally ranked Demon Deacons.
Taylor Pryce leads the Panther offense with three goals, adding two assists for a total of eight points. Vildan Kardesler, Seyla Perez, Mikayla Schmidt, Juelle Love and Christiana Davey have each tallied a goal, with Kardesler adding a pair of assists.
Keeper Katelyn McEachern has earned the start in eight of the team's nine games, playing 705:42 minutes, allowing eight goals and tallying 41 saves. Fellow redshirt freshman goalkeeper Amaia Pena has played in two games, earning the start in one, tallying 155:00 minutes, surrendering three goals and recording 11 saves.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech (6-2-1, 0-1-0 ACC) enters the game in the midst of a two-game losing streak, falling to Tennessee 3-1 Knoxville, before dropping a 3-0 decision to then fourth-ranked Duke to open ACC play Sunday afternoon. Earlier this season, the Hokies were receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Association Poll.
Alani Johnson (3 G) and Allyson Brown (3 G, 1 A) lead the Hokie offense, as nine different players have tallied at least one goal for Virginia Tech. As a team, the Hokies are outscoring their opponents by a margin of 13-8 on the season.
Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn has earned the start in each of Virginia Tech's nine games, totaling 833 minutes, allowing eight goals and recording 30 saves. Zoe Fohall has come off the bench in one outing, seeing 14 minutes of action and recording two saves.
TOUGH STRETCH
Pitt is amidst a tough stretch, facing off against four nationally-ranked opponents in a five-game span. After battling No. 22 Nebraska and No. 23 Wake Forest, the Panthers return home to face a Virginia Tech before traveling to No. 4 Duke and hosting No. 11 Virginia.
The ACC boasts seven schools in the top 25, with an additional program receiving votes. Duke (4), North Carolina (8) and Virginia (11) all rank in the top 15 with Clemson (19), Wake Forest (18) Florida State (23) and North Carolina State (24) rounding out the nationally ranked schools. Notre Dame is the first team out, receiving 61 votes.
THE SERIES
The game will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two teams in a series dating back to the 2002 season. Virginia Tech holds a 3-0-0 all-time advantage over the Panthers, including a mark of 2-0-0 in Pittsburgh. The two teams have met twice in ACC play, as Virginia Tech took a 4-0 victory in Pittsburgh in 2013 and a 4-2 win in Blacksburg, Va., in 2015.
MCEACHERN EARNS ACC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK TITLE
Redshirt freshman keeper Katelyn McEachern was named the ACC's Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22 after tallying a pair of back-to-back shutouts in her collegiate debut. The rookie recorded eight saves in wins over Hofstra and Duquesne and has yet to allow a goal on the season. McEachern played the entirety of both games, tallying 190:42 minutes.
The league honor is the first for a Panther since Taylor Pryce was named the ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29, 2015 after scoring game winning goals against Wake Forest and Louisville.
RETURNING TALENT
Pitt's 2017 squad gets a boost, as both Ashley Moreira and Taylor Pryce will return to the starting lineups, after missing the 2016 season. Both members of the U-20 Canadian National Team, the duo will look to bolster a squad that struggled to find the back of the next last year. Pryce tallied six goals, two of which were game winners, in 2015, adding four in 2014. Moreira, a midfielder, scored once, adding two assists in 2015; additionally, she recorded three helpers in her freshman campaign in 2014.
Two of the team's top-three leaders in minutes played will return from the 2016 season, with Alli Higgs (1581) and Sarah Krause (1479) set to lace up with the starting squad.
FRESH FACES
The 2017 team will debut some fresh faces, led by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Katelyn McEachern, the first new keeper since the 2014 season, as 2016 alum Taylor Francis had held down the position for 50 consecutive matches. As a whole, the Panthers welcome nine new faces with freshmen Alexis Bengel, Kendall Higgs, Juelle Love, Vildan Kardesler, Jess McCoppin, Shana Hardin, Aideen O'Donoghue and Kylie Olexa; and transfer Megan Herr.
MEET YOUR CAPTAINS
A trio of Canadians will lead the way for the 2017 Pitt women's soccer season, as redshirt junior Taylor Pryce and seniors Ashley Moreira and Emma Pozzulo will captain the squad. Both Pryce and Moreira will serve as first-year captains, while Pozzulo gets her third season as a captain underway.
THE SCHEDULE
The regular season will get underway at the Petersen Sports Complex on Aug. 18 as the Panthers welcome Hofstra, before taking to the road for three-straight away battles with Duquesne (Aug. 20), Cincinnati (Aug. 24) and Xavier (Aug. 27). The Panthers will close out the month on Aug. 30, welcoming Detroit.
Illinois State visits Sept. 3, as Pitt will travel to Kent State (Sept. 7) and Nebraska (Sept. 10) before ACC play gets underway. A Sept. 15 visit to Wake Forest gets league play going, as Pitt will host Virginia Tech (Sept. 21) and travel to Duke (Sept. 24) to wrap up September action.
Three consecutive home games follow as the Panthers host perennial powerhouse Virginia (Oct. 1), followed by Syracuse (Oct. 5) and NC State (Oct. 8). A trip to Louisville (Oct. 13) will follow, with visits to Miami (Oct. 19) and Florida State (Oct. 22) wrapping up regular season road play. The 2017 regular season will come to a close on Oct. 26 when the Panthers host Boston College.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will continue their tough stretch, traveling to No. 4 Duke (Sept. 24) before hosting No. 5 Virginia (Oct. 1).
#H2P | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
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