Kent State University
Pitt
Soccer Road Trip Continues against Pitt, Loyola
8/30/2022 10:30:00 AM | Women's Soccer
KENT, Ohio – The nonconference road trip continues this week for the Kent State soccer program as the Golden Flashes head to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, Aug. 31, to square off against Pitt at 7 p.m., followed by a trip to Baltimore to battle Loyola on Sunday, Sep. 4 at 5 p.m.
Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
The Flashes (0-2-1) are looking to bounce back following a 1-0 loss at Dayton on Sunday. Sarah Melén recorded a season-high 13 saves against the Flyers, the second-highest mark of her career. The senior has tallied 21 saves on the season, the most out of all MAC keepers.
Scouting the Panthers
Pitt (4-0) is off to a red-hot start to the season under Head Coach Randy Waldrum, who ranks 10th in NCAA Division I history in career wins with 431. The Panthers finished last season with an 11-7 record, going 4-6 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play.
Pitt boasts a prolific offensive attack, outscoring opponents 15-1 so far on the year, including a 6-0 victory against Cleveland State. Last season, the Panthers offense broke the single-season school records in points (129), goals (41) assists (47), and 82 percent of its point scored returned for the 2022 campaign. Forward Amanda West leads all active ACC players with 38 career goals, and her 96 career points are a program record. The senior leads the Panthers with five goals through the first four games this season, while fellow senior Landy Mertz has added a pair of goals and assists.
The Flashes are 2-6-3 all time against Pitt and have not lost to the Panthers since 2009. The two teams last met in 2018, when a thrilling double-overtime contest ended in a 2-2 draw.
Scouting the Greyhounds
Loyola (2-2) was picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, receiving two first place votes. The Greyhounds have made the conference semifinals in two of the past three seasons. Loyola finished the 2021 campaign with an 8-6-4 record, posting a 5-1-3 mark in conference play.
The Flashes' offensive attack will need to come alive against a stout Greyhound defense in order to secure a good result. Paige Sim earned Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2021 posting 76 saves and 7 clean sheets. She has clean sheets in two straight games, including a nine-save performance against Rice. Offensively, sophomore Bailey DeSmit and junior Kelly Hutton lead the Greyhounds with two goals apiece.
Loyola host Columbia on Thursday before facing the Flashes for the first time in program history.
Follow the Flashes
For more information on the Kent State soccer team, follow Kent State Soccer on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and visit kentstatesports.com for additional information.
