Sunday, August 21
Missoula, MT
6:00 PM
Pitt
2-0-0, 0-0-0
2
at
0
Montana
0-1-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Pittsburgh
0
2
2
Montana
0
0
0
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Photo by: Tommy Martino/UM Athletics
Photo by: Tommy Martino/UM Athletics
Photo by: John Sieber
Photo by: John Sieber
Photo by: John Sieber
Photo by: John Sieber
Photo by: Derek Johnson
Women's Soccer Claims Rumble in the Rockies Crown After Shutting Out Montana
8/21/2022 9:02:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Gamebook (PDF)
MISSOULA, Mont. – The Pitt women's soccer team (2-0-0) potted a pair of second-half goals to overtake host Montana (0-1-1), 2-0, Sunday evening at South Campus Stadium in the finale of the Rumble in the Rockies.
The Panthers claimed bragging rights for the 2022 season-opening event in Missoula after blanking Gonzaga, 1-0, in the season opener on Thursday. Pitt started a new season with back-to-back shutout victories for the first time since 2017 and has started a season 2-0 for the sixth year in a row.
"I thought our possession was much better today, though I'm disappointed in the lack of quality chances we created in the first half," fifth-year head coach Randy Waldrum said.
After playing to a scoreless first half for the second game in a row, the Panthers broke through courtesy of the same duo that got them on the scoreboard in Thursday's win. In the 56th minute, Landy Mertz made a long run down the right side of the pitch, dribbling her way to the top of the penalty arc and dishing left to Amanda West, who took the pass into the box and beat Montana goalkeeper Camellia Xu with a shot that ended up in the back right corner of the net. Thursday's win saw West score the first goal of the season from the left side in the 57th minute off a rebounded shot by Mertz.
"We were much more dangerous in the second half, and I thought Landy Mertz was a big part of that," Waldrum said. "Really nice goal with Mertz providing Amanda West with the perfect entry pass and a great goal from a difficult angle."
Pitt extended its lead to 2-0 in the 80th minute thanks to an impressive display of both passing and shooting, as Leah Pais knocked a pass in the direction of Bri Hilsenteger, who fired from the center of the arc for a goal that wound up top shelf in the left corner.
"Nice to see the combination from Leah Pais to Bri Hilsenteger on a spectacular second goal," Waldrum said.
Pitt won the statistical battle in both shots (16-9) and corner kicks (6-1). West, Ellie Coffield and Anna Bout tied for the match lead with three shots apiece.
After making a career-high 10 saves in Thursday's win over Gonzaga, Caitlyn Lazzarini finished with three stops in Sunday's win en route to her sixth career shutout.
Pitt plays in front of the hometown crowd for the first time in the 2022 regular season when it welcomes UMass to Ambrose Urbanic Field on Thursday. First touch is scheduled for 5 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra. The contest is the first half of a Pitt soccer doubleheader at Ambrose Urbanic Field as the men's team opens its season against Georgetown at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $5 per game or purchased on gameday for $8 at the Petersen Sports Complex Ticket Office. Fans can pick up their free 2022 Pitt Women's Soccer Schedule Poster and Pitt Soccer Vuvuzela giveaway.
PITT NOTES
MISSOULA, Mont. – The Pitt women's soccer team (2-0-0) potted a pair of second-half goals to overtake host Montana (0-1-1), 2-0, Sunday evening at South Campus Stadium in the finale of the Rumble in the Rockies.
The Panthers claimed bragging rights for the 2022 season-opening event in Missoula after blanking Gonzaga, 1-0, in the season opener on Thursday. Pitt started a new season with back-to-back shutout victories for the first time since 2017 and has started a season 2-0 for the sixth year in a row.
"I thought our possession was much better today, though I'm disappointed in the lack of quality chances we created in the first half," fifth-year head coach Randy Waldrum said.
After playing to a scoreless first half for the second game in a row, the Panthers broke through courtesy of the same duo that got them on the scoreboard in Thursday's win. In the 56th minute, Landy Mertz made a long run down the right side of the pitch, dribbling her way to the top of the penalty arc and dishing left to Amanda West, who took the pass into the box and beat Montana goalkeeper Camellia Xu with a shot that ended up in the back right corner of the net. Thursday's win saw West score the first goal of the season from the left side in the 57th minute off a rebounded shot by Mertz.
"We were much more dangerous in the second half, and I thought Landy Mertz was a big part of that," Waldrum said. "Really nice goal with Mertz providing Amanda West with the perfect entry pass and a great goal from a difficult angle."
The dynamic duo strikes again.
— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) August 21, 2022
?? ESPN+ https://t.co/BAnaIuKGzn#H2P pic.twitter.com/3cjW17hmFO
Pitt extended its lead to 2-0 in the 80th minute thanks to an impressive display of both passing and shooting, as Leah Pais knocked a pass in the direction of Bri Hilsenteger, who fired from the center of the arc for a goal that wound up top shelf in the left corner.
"Nice to see the combination from Leah Pais to Bri Hilsenteger on a spectacular second goal," Waldrum said.
What a pass by Pais, what a goal by Hilsenteger!
— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) August 22, 2022
?? ESPN+ https://t.co/BAnaIuKGzn#H2P pic.twitter.com/4Jmzp46ZTD
Pitt won the statistical battle in both shots (16-9) and corner kicks (6-1). West, Ellie Coffield and Anna Bout tied for the match lead with three shots apiece.
After making a career-high 10 saves in Thursday's win over Gonzaga, Caitlyn Lazzarini finished with three stops in Sunday's win en route to her sixth career shutout.
Jaden Griggs and Skyleigh Thompson tied for Montana's team lead with two shots apiece. Xu made two saves for the Grizzlies in the defeat.
UP NEXTPitt plays in front of the hometown crowd for the first time in the 2022 regular season when it welcomes UMass to Ambrose Urbanic Field on Thursday. First touch is scheduled for 5 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra. The contest is the first half of a Pitt soccer doubleheader at Ambrose Urbanic Field as the men's team opens its season against Georgetown at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $5 per game or purchased on gameday for $8 at the Petersen Sports Complex Ticket Office. Fans can pick up their free 2022 Pitt Women's Soccer Schedule Poster and Pitt Soccer Vuvuzela giveaway.
PITT NOTES
- Pitt came away with the win in its first-ever matchup against Montana.
- The Panthers have not lost a game in the month of August since a 2-1 setback at Dartmouth on Aug. 30, 2019.
- Pitt made a pair of changes to its starting XI from the season opener as Bri Hilsenteger and Katie Zailski both earned starts. Zailski, a freshman, made her first career collegiate start while Hilsenteger, a sophomore, made her second. "Always good when we can get our young players some playing time, which we were able to do at the start of the game," Waldrum said.
- West increased her Pitt record for career goals scored to 35.
- Mertz recorded her ninth career assist as a Panther while Pais logged her sixth.
Team Stats
PITT
UM
Goals
2
0
Shots
16
9
Shots on Goal
5
3
Saves
3
3
Corners
6
1
Fouls
2
7
Scoring Plays
Amanda West (2)
Assisted By: Landy Mertz
GOAL by PITT West, Amanda Assist by Mertz, Landy.
55:59
Bri Hilsenteger (1)
Assisted By: Leah Pais
GOAL by PITT Hilsenteger, Bri Assist by Pais, Leah.
79:42
Game Leaders
Players
fwd
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
D
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