Panthers Drop Regular Season Home Final to No. 2 Wake Forest

Thursday, October 24

Pittsburgh, PA

7 PM

Pitt

9-5-3, 3-4-2

#2 Wake Forest

11-2-2, 6-1-1

Wake Forest

Pitt

Panthers Drop Regular Season Home Final to No. 2 Wake Forest

10/24/2024 9:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

PITTSBURGH, PA – Pitt outshot No. 2 Wake Forest but could not break through the Demon Deacons defense as it fell 2-0 in its regular season finale at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

The Panthers slip to 9-5-3 overall and 3-4-2 in the ACC, while Wake Forest extended its unbeaten streak to seven games while improving to 11-2-2 (6-1-1 ACC).

OPENING HALF ACTION

Pitt opened with a strong scoring opportunity in the third minute as Magali Gagne played Keera Melenhorst free inside the box. The Wake Forest defense recovered to make a sliding tackle from behind to push her shot from eight yards out wide of goal. The center judge went to review to confirm the tackle was clean and Pitt was awarded a corner.
Wake Forest struck first in the 24^th minute as Emily Colton sailed a long, angled cross from midfield. The pass took an awkward bounce by a Pitt defender and Caiya Hanks was able to gather to slip a shot near side by a diving Ellie Breech for a 1-0 advantage.
Ellie Coffield had a free kick from just outside the top of the box less than three minutes after the Wake goal and forced a save by Valentina Amaral.
The Panthers outshot Wake Forest 8-2 in the opening 45 minutes.

SECOND HALF ACTION

The Demon Deacons added to the lead in the 52nd minute with a nice passing sequence that was poked home by Emily Murphy with Emily Morris and Hanks earning assists on the play.
Breech made a pair of terrific saves midway through the half to help keep Pitt within striking distance.
Pitt's offense came to life over the final 20 minutes beginning with a goal being wiped away by an offsides call. Kerra Melenhorst played Deborah Abiodun in on goal but an offside call erased the shot from 12-yards out that found the back of the net.
In the 81^st minute, Ava Boyd was taken down in the box after a nice left to right chop that would have left one-on-one with the keeper on the right wing. The Panthers failed to convert the penalty kick but continued to press the goal over the remaining nine minutes.
Pitt earned consecutive corners to test the Wake d in the 85^th minute but a Katie Zailski header on the second attempt went high and settled into the top of the netting.
Abiodun gathered a clear attempt at the top of the box and had a half volley strike with 2:15 remaining that went wide left of goal.

PITT VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS

The Panthers are 5-9-2 in their past 16 matches against ranked opponents. Pitt is 0-3-2 this season against teams ranked in the top 25 of the United Soccer Coaches Poll. Six of Pitt's nine all-time wins against ranked opponents have come under head coach Randy Waldrum.

SCHUPANSKY MATCHES STARTS RECORD

Senior midfielder Sarah Schupansky matched the program record with her 77^th career start. Katelyn Ruhe also started 77 games for the Panthers from 2008-12.

UP NEXT

The Panthers conclude the regular season Thursday, Oct. 31 at No. 7 Notre Dame. The match will be Pitt's third consecutive against teams ranked in the top 25 of the United Soccer Coaches Poll.