Panthers Ready for ACC Matchup with Virginia Tech
10/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Live Stats | Live Video ($) | Season Stats | VIDEO: Lynd Mic’d Up
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men’s soccer team (5-4-2, 0-4-0 ACC) dives back in to ACC play for the fourth game of a five-game homestand as the Panthers welcome the Virginia Tech Hokies (5-4-1, 0-3-1 ACC) in to Ambrose Urbanic Field on Friday, Oct. 9, for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
In their last meeting, Pitt and Virginia Tech played to a 0-0 tie after two overtime periods in Blacksburg, Va. The Hokies lead the all-time series 2-0-3 over the Panthers coming into Friday’s match.
LAST TIME OUT
Pitt and Niagara finished 110 minutes of play after two overtime periods on Tuesday night tied at one goal apiece. Pitt junior midfielder Kevin Murray headed in a Patrick Dixon corner kick in the box to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute before relinquishing the advantage to a goal from Niagara’s Tim Magnusson in the 83rd minute off of set piece. Senior goalkeeper and captain Dan Lynd registered three saves and Pitt outshot the Purple Eagles 18-13 on the night.
HOME COOKING
Friday’s game will be the fourth home game in a row for the Panthers as they make their way through a five game home stretch. The 2015 schedule features 11 total home games at Ambrose Urbanic Field and just six away matches. After completing seven home games thus far, the Panthers have walked away with four wins and have only lost two, along with Tuesday’s tie with Niagara. Pitt is 1-2-1 on the road after falling to ACC-foes Boston College and Syracuse. Upcoming home matchups include Cleveland State on Oct. 13, Harvard on Oct. 20, and Duke on Oct. 24, for Senior Night.
PANTHERS LAND AMONG TOP TEAMS
As of Oct. 5, Pitt found itself among the top teams in the country again coming in at 38th. The Panthers 2015 slate features some of the nation’s top teams including recent College Cup champions Virginia (2014), Notre Dame (2013), and North Carolina (2011). The conference was well represented in the report as ACC teams clinched the top for spots (No. 1 Wake Forest, No. 2 North Carolina, No. 3 Notre Dame, No. 4 Clemson and No. 9 Syracuse).
I AM THE CAPTAIN NOW
Senior captain and goalkeeper Dan Lynd continues to add to his prolific career at Pitt. Below is a snapshot of where Lynd’s career numbers rank in program history:
- 1st – Goalie Minutes Played (4,121)
- 1st – Goals Against Average (1.64)
- T-4th – Shutouts (14)
- 7th – Saves (208)
- 8th – Save Percentage (.735)
In the latest ACC statistical rankings, his six shutouts in 2015 lead the conference and shutouts per game are second-best. Lynd’s 34 saves this season land him fourth in the ACC, just one save behind Ben Lundgaard of Virginia Tech.
SCOUTING THE HOKIES
Virginia Tech has yet to record an ACC win in 2015 and is tied with Duke for fourth in the Coastal division. The Hokies are 2-2 over their last four contests with wins over Delaware, 4-1, and West Virginia, 2-0, heading into Friday’s match with the Panthers. The Hokies’ most notable win in 2015 came on Sept. 6, as they defeated then-No. 10 Xavier on the road, 3-1.
On the attack, sophomore midfielder Merlin Baus paces the Hokies’ scoring this season, recording 13 points with four goals and five assists on 18 total shots. Baus ranks fourth in the ACC in points per game. Virginia Tech is in the bottom-third of the ACC in each offensive category, including goals (16), points (41), shots (122) and assists (9). Defensively, the Hokies trot out sophomore goalkeeper Ben Lundgaard to the net. Lundgaard has registered 29 saves in 2015, good for fourth best in the conference, and is second in the ACC in saves per game (3.22).
UP NEXT
Pitt will break from their ACC schedule for one game as the Panthers face off with non-conference foe Cleveland State, visiting out of the Horizon League, on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field to close out a five-game homestand.
#H2P
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