LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Sophomore Taylor Pryce once again played hero for the Pitt women’s soccer team (9-1-1, 3-0-0 ACC), notching the game’s only goal as the Panthers took down Louisville, 1-0, on Sunday at Lynn Stadium.

“Based on how we played last spring, I thought we had a chance to do something different this season,” said head coach Greg Miller. “It had to come together in its own way. We had a couple hiccups the first few games, but the team has really bought in and have fun around one another. We’re enjoying the environment, and winning makes the process a lot easier.”

By defeating the Cardinals (4-5-1, 1-2-0 ACC), the Panthers’ record win streak improves to eight, trailing only No. 2 North Carolina (9) for the longest active unbeaten streak in the ACC. Pitt and the Tar Heels are the only two unbeaten and untied teams in ACC play as of the game’s conclusion. UNC (2-0-0 ACC) plays Sunday at 5 p.m., meaning the Panthers will finish the weekend at least tied for first in the conference.

The clean sheet gave junior Taylor Francis her league-leading sixth shutout of the season and ninth of her career, putting her alone at third all-time for the program in that category. Pitt’s six shutouts this year mark the second-most for a single season in school history, first set in 1999 and again in 2010.

The team’s nine wins are the most ever in a single season.

Shots (12) and corners (4) were even on the day, although the Panthers had seven shots on goal to Louisville’s four.

Pitt enjoyed its share of scoring chances in the first half, putting four of its eight shots on target and forcing Louisville goalkeeper Taylor Bucklin to make several outstanding saves to keep the contest scoreless.

The Panthers struck paydirt in the 70^th minute thanks to a run from Pryce and the Panthers’ attack. Junior Emily Pietrangelo sped a through ball up to a streaking Pryce inside the box, who finished for her fifth goal of the year. It was Pryce’s goal in the final minute of overtime last Thursday against Wake Forest that handed Pitt the win in that one as well.

“Right now we’re on a high, but we have Florida State coming up,” said Pryce. “We need to stay focused and not get ahead of ourselves because it only gets tougher from here.”

Next up, the Panthers will travel to face No. 3 Florida State on Saturday, Oct. 3, in a Noon game at the Seminole Soccer Complex.

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