Sunday, October 1
Pittsburgh, Pa.
1:00 PM
Pitt
vs
Virginia
Pitt, Virginia Face Off Sunday Afternoon
9/30/2017 12:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Panthers Host No. 15 Cavaliers on Jr. Panthers Day
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh women's soccer team prepares for another nationally ranked foe, welcoming No. 15 Virginia to Ambrose Urbanic Field Sunday afternoon.
The Panthers and Cavaliers will face off at 1 p.m. on the ACC Network Extra.
PROMOTIONS
The game will serve as Pitt's annual Jr. Panthers Day, as kids eighth grade and under are invited to participate in a postgame clinic with the team. The first 100 kids to check in at the marketing table will receive a Pitt women's soccer tshirt. Additionally, postgame autographs will be available.
HOW TO FOLLOW
THE MATCH
Pitt (3-5-3) returns to Ambrose Urbanic Field to face off against another nationally ranked opponent, as No. 15 Virginia visits Sunday afternoon. The Panthers enter the game after a 2-0 loss to No. 4 Duke on the road, just days after competing to an impressive 1-1 draw against Virginia Tech at home.
Offensively, Taylor Pryce paces the Panther squad with eight points (3 G, 2 A) and is joined by teammates Mikayla Schmidt (2 G) and Vildan Kardesler (1 G, 2 A). Seyla Perez, Juelle Love and Christiana Davey have also notched goals for the Panthers.
In goal, Katelyn McEachern has started in 10 of the Panthers' 11 games, tallying 905:42 minutes, recording 60 saves and allowing 11 goals. Teammate Amaia Pena has appeared in two contests, recording 11 saves, allowing three goals.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA
The Cavaliers (6-2-2) are one of six nationally ranked programs in the ACC and enter the game off a 2-1 loss to No. 5 North Carolina. Prior to the loss to the Tar Heels, Virginia had been in the midst of a four-game unbeaten streak, capturing wins over Penn State and Miami and draws with North Carolina State and East Carolina.
Taylor Ziemer leads the way for Virginia with nine points (3 G, 3 A), followed by Taryn Torres (3 G) and Montana Sutton (2 G, 1 A). The Cavaliers are outscoring opponents 14-9, but has scored just three goals in its last four games.
In net, Laurel Ivory has been the only keeper for the Cavaliers, having played in all 1045:15 minutes. The net minder has allowed nine goals, tallying 19 saves.
PITT VS. NATIONALLY RANKED TEAMS
The Panthers are in the midst of a slew of games against nationally ranked teams, as the ACC boasts one of the strongest conferences for women's soccer. Pitt has not claimed a victory over a nationally ranked opponent since earning a 2-1 double-overtime win over then 19th-ranked Georgetown on Oct. 19, 2008 in Pittsburgh.
TOUGH STRETCH
Pitt is amidst a tough stretch, facing off against four nationally ranked opponents in a five-game span. After battling No. 22 Nebraska and No. 23 Wake Forest, the Panthers return home to face a Virginia Tech before traveling to No. 4 Duke and hosting No. 15 Virginia.
The ACC boasts six schools in the top 25, with an additional two programs receiving votes. Duke (4), North Carolina (5) and Virginia (15) all rank in the top 15 with Wake Forest (20) Florida State (21) and Notre Dame (22) rounding out the nationally ranked schools. Both Clemson and North Carolina State are receiving votes.
THE SERIES
This will be the fifth meeting between the two squads in a series dating back to the 2013 season. Virginia owns a 4-0-0 all-time advantage. Last season, the Cavaliers captured a 6-0 victory over the Panthers in Charlottesville, Va.
MCEACHERN EARNS ACC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK TITLE
Redshirt freshman keeper Katelyn McEachern was named the ACC's Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22 after tallying a pair of back-to-back shutouts in her collegiate debut. The rookie recorded eight saves in wins over Hofstra and Duquesne and has yet to allow a goal on the season. McEachern played the entirety of both games, tallying 190:42 minutes.
The league honor is the first for a Panther since Taylor Pryce was named the ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29, 2015 after scoring game winning goals against Wake Forest and Louisville.
RETURNING TALENT
Pitt's 2017 squad gets a boost, as both Ashley Moreira and Taylor Pryce will return to the starting lineups, after missing the 2016 season. Both members of the U-20 Canadian National Team, the duo will look to bolster a squad that struggled to find the back of the next last year. Pryce tallied six goals, two of which were game winners, in 2015, adding four in 2014. Moreira, a midfielder, scored once, adding two assists in 2015; additionally, she recorded three helpers in her freshman campaign in 2014.
Two of the team's top-three leaders in minutes played will return from the 2016 season, with Alli Higgs (1581) and Sarah Krause (1479) set to lace up with the starting squad.
FRESH FACES
The 2017 team will debut some fresh faces, led by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Katelyn McEachern, the first new keeper since the 2014 season, as 2016 alum Taylor Francis had held down the position for 50 consecutive matches. As a whole, the Panthers welcome nine new faces with freshmen Alexis Bengel, Kendall Higgs, Juelle Love, Vildan Kardesler, Jess McCoppin, Shana Hardin, Aideen O'Donoghue and Kylie Olexa; and transfer Megan Herr.
MEET YOUR CAPTAINS
A trio of Canadians will lead the way for the 2017 Pitt women's soccer season, as redshirt junior Taylor Pryce and seniors Ashley Moreira and Emma Pozzulo will captain the squad. Both Pryce and Moreira will serve as first-year captains, while Pozzulo gets her third season as a captain underway.
THE SCHEDULE
The regular season will get underway at the Petersen Sports Complex on Aug. 18 as the Panthers welcome Hofstra, before taking to the road for three-straight away battles with Duquesne (Aug. 20), Cincinnati (Aug. 24) and Xavier (Aug. 27). The Panthers will close out the month on Aug. 30, welcoming Detroit.
Illinois State visits Sept. 3, as Pitt will travel to Kent State (Sept. 7) and Nebraska (Sept. 10) before ACC play gets underway. A Sept. 15 visit to Wake Forest gets league play going, as Pitt will host Virginia Tech (Sept. 21) and travel to Duke (Sept. 24) to wrap up September action.
Three consecutive home games follow as the Panthers host perennial powerhouse Virginia (Oct. 1), followed by Syracuse (Oct. 5) and NC State (Oct. 8). A trip to Louisville (Oct. 13) will follow, with visits to Miami (Oct. 19) and Florida State (Oct. 22) wrapping up regular season road play. The 2017 regular season will come to a close on Oct. 26 when the Panthers host Boston College.
UP NEXT
Pitt continues is three-game ACC homestand, hosting Syracuse on Oct. 5 and No. 24 NC State on Oct. 8.
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The Panthers and Cavaliers will face off at 1 p.m. on the ACC Network Extra.
PROMOTIONS
The game will serve as Pitt's annual Jr. Panthers Day, as kids eighth grade and under are invited to participate in a postgame clinic with the team. The first 100 kids to check in at the marketing table will receive a Pitt women's soccer tshirt. Additionally, postgame autographs will be available.
HOW TO FOLLOW
- The game can be seen live on the ACC Network Extra via Watch ESPN or the WatchESPN app
- Live stats will also be available here
THE MATCH
Pitt (3-5-3) returns to Ambrose Urbanic Field to face off against another nationally ranked opponent, as No. 15 Virginia visits Sunday afternoon. The Panthers enter the game after a 2-0 loss to No. 4 Duke on the road, just days after competing to an impressive 1-1 draw against Virginia Tech at home.
Offensively, Taylor Pryce paces the Panther squad with eight points (3 G, 2 A) and is joined by teammates Mikayla Schmidt (2 G) and Vildan Kardesler (1 G, 2 A). Seyla Perez, Juelle Love and Christiana Davey have also notched goals for the Panthers.
In goal, Katelyn McEachern has started in 10 of the Panthers' 11 games, tallying 905:42 minutes, recording 60 saves and allowing 11 goals. Teammate Amaia Pena has appeared in two contests, recording 11 saves, allowing three goals.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA
The Cavaliers (6-2-2) are one of six nationally ranked programs in the ACC and enter the game off a 2-1 loss to No. 5 North Carolina. Prior to the loss to the Tar Heels, Virginia had been in the midst of a four-game unbeaten streak, capturing wins over Penn State and Miami and draws with North Carolina State and East Carolina.
Taylor Ziemer leads the way for Virginia with nine points (3 G, 3 A), followed by Taryn Torres (3 G) and Montana Sutton (2 G, 1 A). The Cavaliers are outscoring opponents 14-9, but has scored just three goals in its last four games.
In net, Laurel Ivory has been the only keeper for the Cavaliers, having played in all 1045:15 minutes. The net minder has allowed nine goals, tallying 19 saves.
PITT VS. NATIONALLY RANKED TEAMS
The Panthers are in the midst of a slew of games against nationally ranked teams, as the ACC boasts one of the strongest conferences for women's soccer. Pitt has not claimed a victory over a nationally ranked opponent since earning a 2-1 double-overtime win over then 19th-ranked Georgetown on Oct. 19, 2008 in Pittsburgh.
TOUGH STRETCH
Pitt is amidst a tough stretch, facing off against four nationally ranked opponents in a five-game span. After battling No. 22 Nebraska and No. 23 Wake Forest, the Panthers return home to face a Virginia Tech before traveling to No. 4 Duke and hosting No. 15 Virginia.
The ACC boasts six schools in the top 25, with an additional two programs receiving votes. Duke (4), North Carolina (5) and Virginia (15) all rank in the top 15 with Wake Forest (20) Florida State (21) and Notre Dame (22) rounding out the nationally ranked schools. Both Clemson and North Carolina State are receiving votes.
THE SERIES
This will be the fifth meeting between the two squads in a series dating back to the 2013 season. Virginia owns a 4-0-0 all-time advantage. Last season, the Cavaliers captured a 6-0 victory over the Panthers in Charlottesville, Va.
MCEACHERN EARNS ACC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK TITLE
Redshirt freshman keeper Katelyn McEachern was named the ACC's Defensive Player of the Week on Aug. 22 after tallying a pair of back-to-back shutouts in her collegiate debut. The rookie recorded eight saves in wins over Hofstra and Duquesne and has yet to allow a goal on the season. McEachern played the entirety of both games, tallying 190:42 minutes.
The league honor is the first for a Panther since Taylor Pryce was named the ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29, 2015 after scoring game winning goals against Wake Forest and Louisville.
RETURNING TALENT
Pitt's 2017 squad gets a boost, as both Ashley Moreira and Taylor Pryce will return to the starting lineups, after missing the 2016 season. Both members of the U-20 Canadian National Team, the duo will look to bolster a squad that struggled to find the back of the next last year. Pryce tallied six goals, two of which were game winners, in 2015, adding four in 2014. Moreira, a midfielder, scored once, adding two assists in 2015; additionally, she recorded three helpers in her freshman campaign in 2014.
Two of the team's top-three leaders in minutes played will return from the 2016 season, with Alli Higgs (1581) and Sarah Krause (1479) set to lace up with the starting squad.
FRESH FACES
The 2017 team will debut some fresh faces, led by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Katelyn McEachern, the first new keeper since the 2014 season, as 2016 alum Taylor Francis had held down the position for 50 consecutive matches. As a whole, the Panthers welcome nine new faces with freshmen Alexis Bengel, Kendall Higgs, Juelle Love, Vildan Kardesler, Jess McCoppin, Shana Hardin, Aideen O'Donoghue and Kylie Olexa; and transfer Megan Herr.
MEET YOUR CAPTAINS
A trio of Canadians will lead the way for the 2017 Pitt women's soccer season, as redshirt junior Taylor Pryce and seniors Ashley Moreira and Emma Pozzulo will captain the squad. Both Pryce and Moreira will serve as first-year captains, while Pozzulo gets her third season as a captain underway.
THE SCHEDULE
The regular season will get underway at the Petersen Sports Complex on Aug. 18 as the Panthers welcome Hofstra, before taking to the road for three-straight away battles with Duquesne (Aug. 20), Cincinnati (Aug. 24) and Xavier (Aug. 27). The Panthers will close out the month on Aug. 30, welcoming Detroit.
Illinois State visits Sept. 3, as Pitt will travel to Kent State (Sept. 7) and Nebraska (Sept. 10) before ACC play gets underway. A Sept. 15 visit to Wake Forest gets league play going, as Pitt will host Virginia Tech (Sept. 21) and travel to Duke (Sept. 24) to wrap up September action.
Three consecutive home games follow as the Panthers host perennial powerhouse Virginia (Oct. 1), followed by Syracuse (Oct. 5) and NC State (Oct. 8). A trip to Louisville (Oct. 13) will follow, with visits to Miami (Oct. 19) and Florida State (Oct. 22) wrapping up regular season road play. The 2017 regular season will come to a close on Oct. 26 when the Panthers host Boston College.
UP NEXT
Pitt continues is three-game ACC homestand, hosting Syracuse on Oct. 5 and No. 24 NC State on Oct. 8.
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