Women’s Soccer Plays Host to Miami in ACC Home Opener

THE MATCHUP
The Pitt women’s soccer team (8-1-0, 1-0-0 ACC) looks to continue its winning ways when it plays host to Miami (3-2-2, 0-1-0 ACC) in its Atlantic Coast Conference home opener Thursday at Ambrose Urbanic Field. First touch is slated for 6 p.m. The contest will be televised live on ACC Network, with Steve Schlanger and Morgan Bowen on the call.
 
STRONG START TO CONFERENCE PLAY
Pitt opened ACC play with a decisive 4-1 triumph over host Virginia Tech to open ACC play last Friday in Blacksburg, Va. The Panthers picked up their first-ever win over the Hokies and have started ACC play with a win for just the second time in program history as a pair of late first-half goals proved to be the difference. 
 
Freshman Katie Zailski scored what proved to be the game winner for her first collegiate goal in the 41st minute to give Pitt a 2-1 lead it never relinquished. The goal came just a minute after the Hokies had evened the score at one-all following a penalty kick conversion. Mackenzie Evers and Sarah Schupanskyadded insurance goals in the 42nd and 48th minutes.
 
PANTHERS RANKED 18TH IN RPI
The NCAA released its first Rating Percentage Index (RPI) report of the 2022 season on Monday, with Pitt ranked 18th in the country.
 
STARTING OUT HOT
Pitt’s eight victories in its first nine games marks the best start to a season in program history. With its 6-0 start to the 2022 campaign, the Panthers matched the 2020 Pitt squad for the best start through six games. Pitt has come storming out of the gate each of the last three seasons, following up its 6-0 start in 2020 by rattling off five straight wins to begin the ’21 regular season.
 
BUILDING THE PROGRAM
The Panthers are now 39-35-1 under the leadership of fifth-year head coach Randy Waldrum. After going 9-22-4 in the first two years of a massive rebuild, Pitt has gone 30-15 over the last two-plus seasons.
 
OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT
Pitt has outscored the opposition 33-7 so far in 2022. The Panthers currently rank second in NCAA Division I in total points (95) and scoring offense (3.67 points per game) and tied for second total goals (33). Pitt is also tied for fifth in the country in total assists (29) and ranks fifth in both shots per game (22.22) and shots on goal per game (10.89). 
 
The Panthers rolled to a 7-0 victory over Kent State, marking the…