Sunday, September 25
South Bend, IN
1:00 PM
Pitt
10-1-0, 3-0-0
3
at
1
Notre Dame
8-2-0, 1-2-0
1
2
F
Pittsburgh
1
2
3
Notre Dame
0
1
1
Women's Soccer Takes Down No. T-17 Notre Dame
9/25/2022 3:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Pitt women's soccer team (10-1-0, 3-0-0 ACC) kept its perfect start to ACC play going by earning a 3-1 road win over No. T-17 Notre Dame (8-2-0, 1-2-0) Sunday at Alumni Stadium.
The Panthers earned their first-ever victory over the Fighting Irish in 17 tries and extended their best start to a season in program history. Pitt matched the 2015 team for the best start to ACC play through three games in program history.
"What a fantastic win on the road against a very good team," head coach Randy Waldrum said. "I am continually amazed at the way this team fights and responds. I'm so proud of them, and it's a wonderful birthday present. I'm just beyond words and so proud of these ladies."
The Panthers got on the scoreboard first to take a 1-0 lead into halftime, then responded to a Notre Dame equalizer by scoring twice more to earn a key road conference win.
Pitt weathered the early Notre Dame attack, with Caitlyn Lazzarini making a pair of saves in the sixth minute to keep the Fighting Irish off the scoreboard.
Leah Pais put the Panthers in front with her team-high seventh goal of the season, scoring on a second-chance opportunity after a shot by Anna Bout. All seven of Pais' goals have come in the last six games.
The Fighting Irish came up with an equalizer in the 64th minute when Ellie Ospeck scored off an assist by Olivia Wingate to even the score at one-all.
Notre Dame's goal did not deter the Panthers, though, as a pass by Samiah Phiri set up a long run down the right side of the field by Landy Mertz, who buried the goal in the top left corner to put Pitt back in front, 2-1.
Pitt got an insurance goal 10 minutes later as Notre Dame scored an own goal on a free kick ball by Pitt that bounced into the net.
"So many great performances, and every player played a part," Waldrum said. "We continue to find ways to respond, like after they tied the game up at 1-1. A few years ago, we may have folded under the pressure. Our team knows we are good and capable, so they couldn't wait to respond."
The Panthers prevailed by a two-goal margin despite being outshot by the Fighting Irish, 15-9. Pais compiled a game-high five shots and three shots on goal. Lazzarini totaled a game-high five saves.
Maddie Mercado and Wingate combined for eight of Notre Dame's 15 shots with four apiece, with two of Mercado's coming on goal to lead the team. Ashley Naylor made three saves but surrendered all three goals.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns to the friendly confines of Ambrose Urbanic Field next Saturday for a 7 p.m. clash against Louisville. The contest will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
PITT NOTES
The Panthers earned their first-ever victory over the Fighting Irish in 17 tries and extended their best start to a season in program history. Pitt matched the 2015 team for the best start to ACC play through three games in program history.
"What a fantastic win on the road against a very good team," head coach Randy Waldrum said. "I am continually amazed at the way this team fights and responds. I'm so proud of them, and it's a wonderful birthday present. I'm just beyond words and so proud of these ladies."
The Panthers got on the scoreboard first to take a 1-0 lead into halftime, then responded to a Notre Dame equalizer by scoring twice more to earn a key road conference win.
Pitt weathered the early Notre Dame attack, with Caitlyn Lazzarini making a pair of saves in the sixth minute to keep the Fighting Irish off the scoreboard.
Leah Pais put the Panthers in front with her team-high seventh goal of the season, scoring on a second-chance opportunity after a shot by Anna Bout. All seven of Pais' goals have come in the last six games.
SHE CAN'T BE STOPPED!
— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 25, 2022
Leah Pais knocks home her seventh goal of the season to give us a 1-0 lead over Notre Dame!
?? ACC Network Extra https://t.co/qIkl8HX4XG#H2P pic.twitter.com/dL0CnamsyQ
The Fighting Irish came up with an equalizer in the 64th minute when Ellie Ospeck scored off an assist by Olivia Wingate to even the score at one-all.
Notre Dame's goal did not deter the Panthers, though, as a pass by Samiah Phiri set up a long run down the right side of the field by Landy Mertz, who buried the goal in the top left corner to put Pitt back in front, 2-1.
WHAT A FINISH BY LANDY MERTZ!
— Pitt Women's Soccer (@Pitt_WSOC) September 25, 2022
We're back in front, 2-1!
?? ACC Network Extra https://t.co/qIkl8HX4XG#H2P pic.twitter.com/es36CbTXwP
Pitt got an insurance goal 10 minutes later as Notre Dame scored an own goal on a free kick ball by Pitt that bounced into the net.
"So many great performances, and every player played a part," Waldrum said. "We continue to find ways to respond, like after they tied the game up at 1-1. A few years ago, we may have folded under the pressure. Our team knows we are good and capable, so they couldn't wait to respond."
The Panthers prevailed by a two-goal margin despite being outshot by the Fighting Irish, 15-9. Pais compiled a game-high five shots and three shots on goal. Lazzarini totaled a game-high five saves.
Maddie Mercado and Wingate combined for eight of Notre Dame's 15 shots with four apiece, with two of Mercado's coming on goal to lead the team. Ashley Naylor made three saves but surrendered all three goals.
UP NEXT
Pitt returns to the friendly confines of Ambrose Urbanic Field next Saturday for a 7 p.m. clash against Louisville. The contest will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
PITT NOTES
- Sunday's win marked the Pitt's fifth over a ranked opponent in program history and first since taking down then No. 16-ranked Oklahoma State, 3-2, on Aug. 19, 2021.
- Pitt is now 41-35-1 under the leadership of fifth-year head Randy Waldrum. After going 9-22-4 in the first two years of a massive rebuild, Pitt has gone 32-15 over the last two-plus seasons.
- Leah Pais has now scored 16 goals in her Pitt career, giving her 41 points in three seasons as a Panther.
- Landy Mertz has now scored 11 goals and logged 33 points in her three years at Pitt.
- Anna Bout was credited with her team-high sixth assist of the season, upping her career total to 16 assists and 24 points.
- Samiah Phiri tallied her third assist in her first season as a Panther.
- Caitlyn Lazzarini is now 18-7-0 in goal in her career.
Team Stats
Pitt
ND
Goals
3
1
Shots
9
15
Shots on Goal
5
6
Saves
5
3
Corners
3
2
Fouls
19
11
Scoring Plays
Leah Pais (7)
Assisted By: Anna Bout
GOAL by Pitt Pais, Leah Assist by Bout, Anna.
28:16
Ellie Ospeck (2)
Assisted By: Olivia Wingate
GOAL by ND Ospeck, Ellie Assist by Wingate, Olivia.
63:55
Landy Mertz (6)
Assisted By: Samiah Phiri
GOAL by Pitt Mertz, Landy Assist by Phiri, Samiah.
65:06
0
GOAL by Pitt TEAM.
75:17
Game Leaders
Players
mid
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerF
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