No. 7 Pitt Women’s Soccer Opens 2024 Campaign in Georgia

Thursday, August 15

Athens, GA

6:30 PM

Pitt

#14 Georgia

No. 7 Pitt Women’s Soccer Opens 2024 Campaign in Georgia

8/14/2024 11:30:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Game Notes

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh women's soccer team is set to open their 2024 regular season campaign down in Athens, Georgia as they face off against the Bulldogs on Thursday, Aug. 15. The matchup is set for a 6:30 PM start at Turner Soccer Complex.

FOLLOW ALONG

Live stats for the game can be found HERE.
Live updates throughout the game will be posted on X (formally known as Twitter) by following the Pitt women's soccer account @Pitt_WSOC.

THE SERIES

This will be the second time in program history that the Panthers and the Bulldogs will face off. Georgia currently holds the lead after their 2-0 win against Pitt back in 2005. The Panthers are looking to equalize the record books and secure a win in the season opening matchup.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs are coming off of one of their most historic seasons yet. Georgia's 2023 season run came to an end in the third round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament after falling to the Clemson Tigers in penalty kicks.
This was only the Bulldog's second appearance in their program history advancing to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

A LOOK BACK AT 2023

The Panthers plan to continue their momentum from their most historic season yet. The 2023 season took them all the way to their first-ever Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament as well as their first time competing in the ACC Championship Semifinals.
The Panthers finished at No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches rankings with a 17-win season, finishing 17-6-1 with a 6-3-1 ACC mark. Pitt set program records for most wins overall (17), ACC wins (6), home wins (9), points (194), goals (64) and assists (68).
The Panthers posted victories over Duke and North Carolina in the regular season, beating both for the first time in program history.
The coaching staff who, received the NCAA Atlantic Region Staff of the Year award, helped the team propel past five top-25 teams including three in the top ten.

NO FIRST GAME JITTERS

Pitt is a perfect 6-0 in season openers under head coach Randy Waldrum and has come away victorious in each of its last seven openers dating back to 2017 when the Panthers conceded over Hofstra, 1-0.
The Panthers sport a 17-7-3 record in season openers dating back to the program's first inaugural season in 1996.

CONTINUITY ON COACHING STAFF

Head Coach Randy Waldrum is joined by associate head coach Ben Waldrum, with the duo all returning to Pitt for a seventh season in 2024.
Jesse Goleman was promoted last year to Assistant Coach and will be back with the panthers for a fourth year.
Pitt also added former Panther Ashton Gordon to their coaching roster as an Assistant Coach and will be entering her first year as a coach.

BULK OF THE SCORING BACK

The Panthers return five of their double-digit point scorers from last season: Sarah Schupansky (36 points; 11 goals, 14 assists), Samiah Phiri (26 points; 11 goals, 4 assists), Ellie Coffield (20 points; 8 goals, 4 assists), Deborah Abiodun (15 points; 6 goals; 3 assists), and Keera Melenhorst (12 points; 3 goals, 6 assists).

FRESH FACES

Pitt's roster will feature eight freshman: Coco Dorfman, Dakota Watterson, Chloe Brecht, Erika Schneider, Bella Haynes, Rylee Keeley, Emily Graeca, and Lola Abraham.
The Panthers also scooped up five new transfers this season: Abigail Reisz, Magali Gagne, Celine Ottah, Bailey Wagenknecht and Ava Boyd.

UP NEXT

The Panthers face off in the city rivalry game this year at Highmark Stadium against Duquesne on Sunday, August 18 with a 3 p.m. kickoff. Admission is free for all fans.