Since 2017, head coach Randy Waldrum has patiently turned Pitt women’s soccer around. Starting his inaugural season at Pitt with a substandard 3-12-3 record in the 2017 regular season, Waldrum rounded out a historic 17-6-1 2023 season.
After reaching the ACC semifinals and NCAA tournament quarterfinal, Pitt finished their 2023 season ranked No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches Rankings. Following the club’s first-ever Sweet Sixteen debut in 2022 and an Elite Eight berth in 2023, expectations are high to keep the ball rolling in the 2024 season.
Amanda West and Landy Mertz made history last season as the first Panthers to get drafted and secure an NWSL contract. The Panthers are tasked to fill significant roles this season, with Mertz going to the North Carolina Courage and West to the Houston Dash.
Sophomore midfielder Deborah Abiodun returns this season following a stellar first-year debut. Her 2023 season featured 15 points, with six goals and three assists. Starting in 19 out of 22 games, Abiodun secured the winning goal against Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as well. In the off-season, Abiodun played for the Nigerian National team under Coach Waldrum in the Paris Olympics.
Senior forwards Samiah Phiri and Sarah Shupansky are set to serve as key returning players this season. Phiri started in 21 out of 24 games she played in and posted four game-winning goals, which was the most on the team. Phiri earned 26 points for the season with 11 goals and four assists. Shupansky appeared in all 24 games in 2024 and started in 22. The Pittsburgh native posted 36 points, which was good for the most points earned in a single season in program history with 11 goals and 14 assists.
First-year Lola Abraham will make her Pitt debut this season as a forward. The Pennsylvania native accumulated several accolades from her high school career. Abraham earned Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year honors, and she also led the WPIAL in goals in 2023, earning 68 goals.
The Panthers open their regular season on Aug. 15 in Athens, Georgia for a matchup against Georgia. Pitt will then face off against cross-city rival Duquesne on Aug. 18 at Highmark Stadium. Last season, Pitt dominated Duquesne 6-1.
Tough conference play picks up in late September and October, with games against UNC, Clemson, Notre Dame and Florida State. Pitt picked up its first win in the club’s history against UNC last season. Pitt also yielded a draw against Notre Dame last season and earned the program’s first win over the Fighting Irish in the 2022 season.
The two remaining conference teams Pitt has yet to beat are Clemson and Florida State. Pitt tied Clemson in 2022, but the Tigers bested Pitt 0-1 last season. Clemson holds an 8-0-1 record over Pitt, so a win against the Tigers this season would add another historical first under Waldrum’s belt.
Florida State is a common adversary in the ACC conference. The No. 1 Seminoles have taken three national championship titles in the past six years. The Panthers fell to the Seminoles in the ACC Semifinals and the Elite Eight last season. Pitt faces national powerhouse Florida State in conference play on Oct. 20 in Tallahassee.
The Panthers’ schedule this season is filled with challenging ACC and non-conference foes. Each season, Waldrum’s team surpasses records paved the season before. If the team follows suit, Pitt has a great chance of climbing to the top of the ACC and pushing new bounds in the College Cup.