Since 2017, head coach Randy Waldrum has patiently turned Pitt women’s soccer around. He began his first season at Pitt with a subpar 3-12-3 Record in the 2017 regular season, Waldrum rounded off a historic 17-6-1 Season 2023.
After reaching the ACC semifinals And NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals, Pitt finished their 2023 season in No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches Rankings. After the club’s first Sweet Sixteen debut in 2022 and a place in the Elite Eight In 2023, expectations are high that things can continue like this in the 2024 season.
Amanda West and Landy Mertz made history last season as first Panthers to be drafted and receive an NWSL contract. The Panthers are faced with the task of filling key roles this season as Mertz goes to the North Carolina Courage and West goes to the Houston Dash.
Midfielder Deborah Abiodun returns this season after an outstanding debut in her first year. Season 2023 scored 15 points, six goals and three assists. Abiodun started 19 of 22 games and also scored the game-winning goal against Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. In the offseason, Abiodun played for the Nigerian national team under coach Waldrum at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Experienced strikers Samiah Phiri and Sarah Shupansky are expected to be key returnees this season. Phiri She started 21 of 24 games and scored four game-winning goals, the most on the team. Phiri scored 26 points on the season with 11 goals and four assists. Schupanski played in all 24 games in 2024 and started 22 of them. The Pittsburgh native scored 36 points, which was the highest single-season point total in program history with 11 goals and 14 assists.
Freshman Lola Abraham will make her debut at Pitt this season as a forward. The Pennsylvania native collected several awards during her high school career. Abraham earned Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year Awards, and she also led the WPIAL in goals in 2023, scoring 68 goals.
The Panthers open their regular season on August 15 in Athens, Georgia, with a game against Georgia. Pitt will then face cross-city rival Duquesne at Highmark Stadium on August 18. Last season Pitt dominated Duquesne 6-1.
The tough league phase begins at the end of September and October with games against UNC, Clemson, Notre Dame and Florida State. Pitt won its first victory in club history against UNC last season. Pitt also drew with Notre Dame last season and earned the program title first victory over the Fighting Irish in the 2022 season.
The two remaining conference teams Pitt has yet to beat are Clemson and Florida State. Pitt has tied Clemson in 2022, but the Tigers defeated Pitt 0-1 last season. Clemson has a 8-0-1 record over Pitt, so a win against the Tigers this season would set another historic record for Waldrum.
Florida State is a frequent opponent in the ACC conference. No. 1 Seminoles have three national championship titles in the last six years. The Panthers lost to the Seminoles in the ACC semifinals and the Elite Eight last season. Pitt will face nationally top team Florida State in conference play on October 20 in Tallahassee.
The Panthers’ schedule this season is packed with challenging ACC and non-conference opponents. Each season, Waldrum’s team surpasses the previous season’s records. If the team follows suit, Pitt has a great chance to climb to the top of the ACC and set new standards in the College Cup.
