Women’s Soccer: Pitt continues search for first ACC win against Tar Heels

Pitt women’s soccer hosts No. 6 North Carolina, last year’s national champion, tonight at 7 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field in the first-ever contest between the two teams.   

“North Carolina is similar to [Virginia] in terms of the athleticism and talent level they have,” head coach Greg Miller said. “Carolina is a little bit different, because they’re going to put a little more pressure on us and attack with a little bit more purpose. So this should be a good challenge for us.” 

Pitt’s season thus far

Pitt enters tonight’s match with an overall record of 4-5-1 and an ACC record of 0-2. So far this season, the Panthers have defeated Duquesne (1-0), Bucknell (3-0), Central Michigan (1-0) and Toledo (1-0). 

The Panthers have struggled in conference play thus far, as the team has been outscored 9-1 in its four losses. 

A bright spot has been the play of goalkeeper Nicole D’Agostino, who tied her career high when she recorded 10 saves in Sunday’s 3-1 loss against Virginia. D’Agostino leads the ACC with 50 saves recorded. 

UNC thus far

Since reaching the nation’s No. 1 ranking, the Tar Heels have lost two out of their last three games. North Carolina ranks near the top in almost all of the offensive categories in the Atlantic Coast Conference.  

The Tar Heels rank first in the ACC in shots per game with 17.75, fifth in points per game and fifth in goals scored. Individually, the Tar Heels have the top goal scorer in the ACC, two of the top three shot leaders and the third-leading point-getter. 

Player to Watch: Crystal Dunn

North Carolina boasts one of the top players in the country in midfielder Crystal Dunn. This season, Dunn has scored an ACC-best nine times, and she ranks third in points in the entire ACC. 

Back in 2010, Dunn was named Soccer America’s Freshman of the Year, an NSCAA First-Team All-America honoree and was First Team All-ACC. 

Last year, Dunn was one of four finalists for ESPN’s 2013 Outstanding Female College Athlete of the Year ESPY award  and was a finalist for U.S. Soccer’s 2012 Young Female Athlete of the Year. 

Dunn is a member of the U.S. National Team, with which she has recorded six caps and four starts.