2023 Pittsburgh Panthers women's soccer team

Last updated

2023 Pittsburgh Panthers women's soccer
Pitt Panthers wordmark.svg
NCAA Tournament, Quarterfinals
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference
U. Soc. Coaches  pollNo. 6
TopDrawerSoccer.comNo. 5
Record17–6–1 (6–3–1 ACC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Ben Waldrum (6th season)
  • Jesse Goleman (1st season)
Home stadium Ambrose Urbanic Field
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 ACC women's soccer standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L T PCTW L T PCT
No. 1 Florida State  y901 .9502201 .978
No. 16 Notre Dame  y712 .8001244 .700
No. 3 Clemson  y721 .7501844 .769
No. 8 North Carolina  y505 .7501328 .739
No. 6 Pittsburgh  y631 .6501761 .729
Wake Forest  424 .6001035 .694
Virginia  334 .500836 .647
Virginia Tech  460 .400783 .472
Louisville  352 .400495 .361
Duke  253 .350673 .469
NC State  253 .350396 .333
Miami (FL)  271 .2503104 .294
Boston College  064 .200396 .333
Syracuse  091 .0502142 .167
Conference champion
2023 ACC Tournament champion
y Invited to the NCAA Tournament
Source: The ACC
As of December 5, 2023
Rankings from United Soccer Coaches Poll

The 2023 Pittsburgh Panthers women's soccer team represented University of Pittsburgh during the 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer season. The Panthers were led by head coach Randy Waldrum, in his sixth season. They played home games at Ambrose Urbanic Field. This was the team's 28th season playing organized women's college soccer and their 11th playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Contents

The Panthers started off the season as the 14th ranked team in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and won their first six games before losing to number 21 Xavier. They would win their second game of the road trip to Cincinnati to finish the non-conference season 7–1–0. Despite the almost perfect record, the Panthers fell out of the rankings as the ACC season started. They did not play a Power 5 team in non-conference play. They began their ACC season with a win, loss, and draw, with the draw coming against 10th ranked Notre Dame. They followed with four straight wins, including two against 22nd ranked Duke and 17th ranked Wake Forest. This saw them return to the rankings and number seventeen. They lost the next two games against 1st ranked Florida State and 8th ranked Clemson before winning their final conference game.

The Panthers finished the season 17–6–1 overall and 6–3–1 in ACC play to finish in fifth place. As the fifth seed in the ACC Tournament they upset nationally third ranked North Carolina in overtime in the Quarterfinals. They could not advance further than the semifinals as they were defeated by Florida State. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. As the seventh-seed in the Florida State Bracket, they defeated Ohio State 6–0 in the First Round and, second-seed Arkansas in the Second Round and sixth seed Memphis in the Round of 16. The victory against Memphis set up a third matchup with Florida State this season. The score in this matchup was the most lopsided of the three matches and the Panthers lost 3–0 to end their season. Their seventeen wins were the most in program history, and their six wins were the most in program history. This marked the second overall appearance in the NCAA tournament for the team.

Previous season

The Panthers finished the season 14–5–3 overall and 5–3–2 in ACC play to finish in sixth place. As the sixth seed in the ACC Tournament they tied Notre Dame 1–1, but lost the ensuing penalty shoot-out 5–4. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. As the fourth-seed in the Florida State Bracket, they defeated Buffalo in the first round and, fifth-seed Georgetown in the second round before traveling to first-seed Florida State in the round of 16. The Panthers' run would end in Tallahassee where they lost 3–0.

Offseason

Departures

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightYearHometownReason for Departure
Caitlyn Lazzarini1GK5'8"Senior Nazareth, Pennsylvania Graduated
Mackenzie Edwards3DF5'7"Senior Jamison, Pennsylvania Graduated
Leah Pais 8FW5'4"Senior Mississauga, Canada Graduated
Emily Yaple 10MF5'5"Junior Erie, Pennsylvania Transferred to Florida [1]
Hailey Davidson 11DF5'4"Graduate Student Prosper, Texas Graduated
Bri Hilsenteger14MF5'3"Sophomore Austin, Texas Transferred to Houston
Athalie Palomo 17DF5'3"Senior Irving, Texas Graduated
Elena Hinkson18MF5'7"Sophomore Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Transferred to Florida Gulf Coast
Paige Califf19MF5'8"Freshman Orange, California Transferred to CSUN
Maddie Keister20MF5'6"Sophomore Le Roy, New York Transferred to Youngstown State [2]
Krystyna Rytel22MF5'8"Senior Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Graduated
Keely Brown30DF5'8"Freshman Castle Pines, Colorado Transferred to San Jose State
Misa Kasparcova31MF5'3"Freshman Collegeville, Pennsylvania Transferred to UMBC
Gabriella Beibart33GK5'8"Senior Morristown, New Jersey Graduated
Chantelle Parker35FW5'7"Junior Milton, Canada Transferred to Northern Illinois

Incoming transfers

Incoming Transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightYearHometownPrevious School
Emily Cooper31FW5'10"Sophomore Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Recruiting class

NameNationalityHometownClubTDS Rating
Olivia Duray
MF
Flag of the United States.svg Woodridge, Illinois FC United (IL)Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Paige Dziedzic
FW
Flag of the United States.svg Chicago, Illinois Eclipse Select (IL)Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Emily Edwards
GK
Flag of the United States.svg Holly Springs, North Carolina North Carolina FC YouthStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Delaney Evers
MF
Flag of the United States.svg Oakdale, Pennsylvania Beadling SCStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Kaitlyn Killinger
FW
Flag of the United States.svg Plum, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh HotspursStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Olivia Lee
DF
Flag of the United States.svg Scarsdale, New York NYSCStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Emma Rhoades
MF
Flag of the United States.svg Fenton, Michigan Nationals (GA)Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Kaley Simqu
DF
Flag of the United States.svg Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh HotspursStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Sage Stelzer
DF
Flag of the United States.svg Blue Bell, Pennsylvania Penn Fusion SAStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Emma Van Meter
GK
Flag of the United States.svg Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh RiverhoundsStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Lucia Wells
FW
Flag of the United States.svg Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh RiverhoundsStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]

Squad

Roster

As of November 29, 2023 [14]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
0 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ellie Breech
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Haylee Mersereau
3 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lanie Fuchs
4 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ellie Coffield
5 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sarah Schupansky
6 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Landy Mertz
7 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Fleming Dean
8 MF Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGA Deborah Abiodun
9 FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Amanda West
10 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Keera Melenhorst
11 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Mackenzie Evers
12 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Anna Bout
13 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ashley Moon
14 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Evie Craven
15 MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Chloe Minas
16 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lucia Wells
17 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Aliya Gomes
No.Pos.NationPlayer
18 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Paige Dzeidzic
19 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sofia Doheny
20 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Olivia Lee
21 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Katie Zailski
22 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Delaney Evers
23 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Samiah Phiri
24 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Emma Rhoades
25 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Emily Edwards
26 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Margaret Wilde
27 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Briana Rodriguez
28 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kaley Simqu
29 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Olivia Duray
30 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kaitlyn Killinger
31 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Emily Cooper
32 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ashton Gordon
33 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Emma Van Meter
35 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sage Stelzer

Team management

PositionStaff
Head Coach Randy Waldrum
Associate Head CoachBen Waldrum
Assistant CoachJesse Goleman

Source: [14]

Schedule

Source: [15] [16]

Date
Time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordSite (Attendance)
City, State
Exhibition
August 6*
7:00 p.m.
No. 14at  West Virginia  None Reported 
Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium
Morgantown, WV
August 10*
3:00 p.m.
No. 14 Niagara W 6–0 
Ambrose Urbanic Field
Pittsburgh, PA
Non-Conference Regular Season
August 17*
7:00 p.m.,  YouTube
No. 14at  Buffalo W  2–1  1–0–0
UB Stadium (375)
Buffalo, NY
August 20*
1:00 p.m.,  ACCN
No. 14 Drexel W  4–1  2–0–0
Ambrose Urbanic Field (657)
Pittsburgh, PA
August 24*
7:00 p.m., BoxCast
No. 21at  Kent State W  1–0  3–0–0
Zoeller Field (498)
Kent, OH
August 27*
1:00 p.m., ACCNX
No. 21 Bucknell W  5–0  4–0–0
Ambrose Urbanic Field (786)
Pittsburgh, PA
August 31*
7:00 p.m., ACCNX
No. 21 Duquesne W  6–1  5–0–0
Ambrose Urbanic Field (939)
Pittsburgh, PA
September 3*
4:00 p.m., ACCNX
No. 21 Bowling Green W  5–1  6–0–0
Ambrose Urbanic Field (733)
Pittsburgh, PA
September 7*
7:00 p.m.,  FloFC
No. 22at No. 21  Xavier L  1–2  6–1–0
Corcoran Field (726)
Cincinnati, OH
September 10*
1:00 p.m.,  ESPN+
No. 22at  Cincinnati W  2–1  7–1–0
Gettler Stadium (280)
Cincinnati, OH
ACC Regular season
September 17
2:00 p.m., ACCNX
at  NC State W  2–0  8–1–0
(1–0–0)
Dail Soccer Field (331)
Raleigh, NC
September 21
8:00 p.m., ACCN
at  Louisville L  2–3  8–2–0
(1–1–0)
Lynn Stadium (279)
Louisville, KY
September 24
1:00 p.m., ACCNX
No. 10  Notre Dame T  1–1  8–2–1
(1–1–1)
Ambrose Urbanic Field (973)
Pittsburgh, PA
September 30
7:00 p.m., ACCNX
Boston College W  2–0  9–2–1
(2–1–1)
Ambrose Urbanic Field (858)
Pittsburgh, PA
October 5
7:00 p.m., ACCNX
No. 22  Duke W  2–1  10–2–1
(3–1–1)
Ambrose Urbanic Field (958)
Pittsburgh, PA
October 8
1:00 p.m., ACCNX
No. 17  Wake Forest W  4–1  11–2–1
(4–1–1)
Ambrose Urbanic Field (545)
Pittsburgh, PA
October 14
1:00 p.m., ACCNX
No. 17at  Syracuse W  6–0  12–2–1
(5–1–1)
SU Soccer Stadium (187)
Syracuse, NY
October 19
7:00 p.m., ACCNX
No. 18at No. 1  Florida State L  2–3  12–3–1
(5–2–1)
Seminole Soccer Complex (1,125)
Tallahassee, FL
October 22
2:00 p.m., ACCN
No. 18at No. 9  Clemson L  0–1  12–4–1
(5–3–1)
Riggs Field (867)
Clemson, SC
October 26
7:00 p.m., ACCNX
No. 20 Virginia Tech W  2–1  13–4–1
(6–3–1)
Ambrose Urbanic Field (1,280)
Pittsburgh, PA
ACC Tournament
October 29
8:00 p.m., ACCN
(5) No. 20at (4) No. 3  North Carolina
First Round
W  2–1  2OT14–4–1
Dorrance Field (1,174)
Chapel Hill, NC
November 2
8:00 p.m., ACCN
(5) No. 11vs. (1) No. 1 Florida State
Semifinal
L  0–2  14–5–1
Sahlen's Stadium (678)
Cary, NC
NCAA Tournament
November 11
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
(7) No. 11 Ohio State
First Round
W  6–0  15–5–1
Ambrose Urbanic Field (1,309)
Pittsburgh, PA
November 17
7:30 p.m., ESPN+
(7) No. 11at (2) No. 10  Arkansas
Second Round
W  4–3  16–5–1
Razorback Field (2,215)
Fayetteville, AR
November 19
7:00 p.m., ESPN+
(7) No. 11at (6) No. 8  Memphis
Round of 16
W  3–0  17–5–1
Razorback Field (719)
Fayetteville, AR
November 24
5:30 p.m., ESPN+
(7) No. 11at (1) No. 1 Florida State
Quarterfinals
L  0–3  17–6–1
Seminole Soccer Complex (2,000)
Tallahassee, FL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from United Soccer Coaches. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern.

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDateRef.
Amanda West Preseason All-ACC Team August 10 [17]
Sarah Schupansky ACC Offensive Player of the Week August 29 [18]
Sarah Schupansky All-ACC First Team November 1 [19]
Amanda West All-ACC Second Team
Deborah Abiodun All-ACC Third Team
Landy Mertz
Samiah Phiri
Amanda West All-ACC Tournament Team November 5 [20]
Landy Mertz

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
United Soccer [21] 14212122RVRVRV17182011Not released6
TopDrawer Soccer [22] 1514131115111814119131098555

2024 NWSL Draft

Pittsburgh had two players selected in the 2024 NWSL Draft. This was the first time in program history that Pittsburgh had any players selected in the NWSL Draft. [23] [24]

PlayerTeamRoundPick #Position
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Amanda West Houston Dash 336FW
Flag of the United States.svg Landy Mertz North Carolina Courage 452FW

References

  1. Howard, Mary (May 5, 2023). "Gator Soccer Adds Transfer Emily Yaple". floridagators.com. University of Florida Athletics. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  2. "Women's Soccer Adds Gonzalez, Keister for 2023". ysusports.com. Youngstown State Athletics. June 16, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  3. "Olivia Duray". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  4. "Paige Dziedzic". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  5. "Emily Edwards". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  6. "Delaney Evers". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  7. "Kaitlyn Killinger". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  8. "Olivia Lee". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  9. "Emma Rhoades". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  10. "Kaley Simqu". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  11. "Sage Stelzer". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  12. "Emma Van Meter". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  13. "Lucia Wells". topdrawersoccer.com. Top Drawer Soccer. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "2023 Women's Soccer Roster". pittsburghpanthers.com. University of Pittsburgh Athletics. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  15. "2023 Women's Soccer Schedule". pittsburghpanthers.com. University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  16. "Women's Soccer Debuts 2023 Schedule". pittsburghpanthers.com. University of Pittsburgh. June 29, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  17. "North Carolina Named 2023 ACC Women's Soccer Preseason Favorite". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  18. "Pitt's Schupansky, UNC's Meza Named ACC Women's Soccer Players of Week". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  19. "2023 All-ACC Women's Soccer Awards Announced". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  20. "Florida State Wins Fourth Consecutive ACC Women's Soccer Title". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  21. "United Soccer Coaches Top 25 NCAA DI Women — National". unitedsoccercoaches.org. United Soccer Coaches. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  22. "College Soccer National Rankings". TopDrawer Soccer. TopDrawer Soccer. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  23. "Conference-Record 19 Players Selected in 2024 NWSL Draft, UNC's Sentnor Goes No. 1 Overall". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  24. "Mertz, West Become First Panthers Drafted in NWSL in Program History". pittsburghpanthers.com. Pittsburgh Panthers Athletics. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.