Punxsutawney Phil may have had Pitt in mind when he predicted six weeks of winter before one of the most “beautiful and brightest” springs ever. The Panthers got the spring started in great fashion with a slew of accolades across multiple sports.

Pitt women’s soccer played its final game of the season against Kentucky on Monday, defeating the Wildcats 4-1 to earn a final 2020-21 record of 11-5 (3-5 ACC). The Panthers’ 11 wins in 16 games surpasses the program record for most victories in a women’s soccer season — 10 in 18 games in 2015. Pitt head coach Randy Waldrum appreciated the accomplishment but explained that this represents a mere step toward the ultimate goal.

Pitt women’s soccer played its first game since Nov. 1, 2020, at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Sunday. The Panthers defeated their crosstown rivals, the Duquesne Dukes, by a score of 3-0 with turf-blackened snow lining the walls of the stadium.

Men's and women's cross country also concluded their seasons over the weekend, traveling to North Carolina to compete in the ACC Championships.

Pitt women’s soccer (9-3-0, 3-3-0) celebrated its last home game of the season with a 2-0 bounce-back win against the Miami Hurricanes (0-7-0, 0-6-0), solidifying a 4-1 record at home.

Pitt women’s soccer took a beating against no. 2 Florida State on a rainy Thursday night, falling 4-1. This marks the Panthers’ second loss of the season to a ranked opponent and their first defeat at home.

Soccer in the United States has typically taken a back seat to other sports, but Pitt fans should take notice of the high-level soccer being played in Oakland.

In addition to Pitt football’s headline-grabbing win over conference rival Louisville on Saturday, other Panther teams had a busy and largely triumphant weekend. Both men’s and women’s soccer picked up road wins, taking down Notre Dame and The Citadel, respectively. Pitt volleyball did not experience that same success, though, as the team fell to Syracuse twice in back-to-back nights.

In addition to Pitt football’s headline-grabbing win over conference rival Syracuse on Saturday, other Panthers teams boasted a dominant weekend. Men’s soccer routed Louisville on Saturday in its final home exhibition game before beginning the regular season, while women’s soccer traveled to Navy and picked up its fourth consecutive win.

But don’t wait until you step into Heinz Field, the Pete or Fitzgerald Field House to start learning about your classmates. Get to know some of the stars of the class in 2020 before you join them in Pittsburgh.