The Pitt Panther women’s soccer team ended 2020 on the highest of highs: a 4-1 thumping of Kentucky that broke the school wins record.
The Panthers allowed just 1.1 goals per game – down from 1.7 a year before. Pittsburgh posted six clean sheets in its 11 wins.
Junior center back Mackenzie Edwards is a big reason why the Pitt defense gave its opponents plenty of nuthin’ last fall.
“Our big thing is to limit the amount of corners we give up because that means less chances for the opponent scoring,” Edwards explained. “And tackling, to make sure no other shots come off outside of the 18-yard box. We always have small accomplishments that we want to achieve within each game as a team and even as a defensive four.”
Pitt improved from 5-10-3 in 2019 to 11-5 in 2020. Last Oct. 1, Virginia needed overtime to top Pitt 2-1 in Charlottesville. The game proved the Panthers could play with anyone as Virginia ultimately advanced all the way to the NCAA Final Four during the spring season.
When Edwards’ crew beat Boston College 2-1 in October 2019, it both avenged a 7-0 loss from the prior year and snapped an ugly 27 match ACC non-winning streak. Pitt soccer was starting a sea change.
“This year, they had the confidence to feel like they could compete with anybody,” noted Pitt head coach Randy Waldrum. “The UVa game was a good example.”
“In my freshman year, 19 of us came in that were brand new. Throughout my freshman to sophomore year, we grew as a family and grew into a family,” Edwards feels. “From the offensive line through the goalie, we knew that we all had each other’s backs and that just grew throughout time.”
“Continuing to get better players, Mackenzie’s group having a year under their belt, and the overall confidence and chemistry of the team all contributed to the successful season we had this past fall,” believes Waldrum, who won two national titles as head coach of Notre Dame.
Edwards, a CB South Titan, understands her role. She likely won’t light up a box score but in her first two years at Pitt, she led or co-led the team in minutes played.
“It was difficult coming in,” Edwards admitted. “I think physically I wasn’t as ready as I should have been however, the people around me made it so much easier. I knew I had to work on getting more fit. Sophomore year came around and I was 10 levels up in the fitness test.”
“That is something that, as a coach, you’re always proud of,” Waldrum praised. “You always say ‘Control those things that you can.’ You can always spend extra time with the ball to get better with your skills and spend time with your fitness level. Those are things the student-athlete can control and she really took that on. She made a huge stride from freshman year to sophomore year.”
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