There were jumps, hugs and tears. Screams, laughs and shouts. The noises and reactions of a team that had truly accomplished something. It was Pitt(w) celebrating, a joyous response to making the ACC tournament for the first time in program history.

It did so in a very methodical manner. With only a point needed against ACC rivals Clemson, the Panthers handled the game comfortably, defending with a real solidity before picking their moments to go forward. The result was a 0-0 tie — a scoreline aesthetically poor but mathematically invaluable.

Still, there was no real need for this contest to be pretty. Head coach Randy Waldrum has seen his squad battered by injuries over the past 11 weeks. And after striker Amanda West suffered torn knee ligament back in September, there was little reason to suspect the Panthers would be playing for a tournament spot. But Waldrum and his staff modified their approach slightly. Here was a team that at times emphasized grit over flow, defense over attack. And the results came. The Pantehrs won their first four ACC matches, beating two top 25 teams in the process. They made it difficult for themselves, though, spluttering to a final day clash.

But here they were on a still Thursday night in Pittsburgh, for what Waldrum dubbed the “biggest game in program history.” Clemson had plenty to play for, too. The Tigers’ ACC campaign had been a rocky thing, but a win would’ve seen them through to the conference tournament. And it was the visitors who started with attacking intent. They poured into the final third at every opportunity, a near caution-free setup. A 4-3-3 quickly morphed into a 2-4-4, with passing options abound. But every ball zipped to the wing, every cross floated into the box, seemed to have a Pitt defender awaiting its arrival. There was the occasional look on goal. Clemson found gaps in the box, piecing together a series of half chances — including one that left Pitt goalkeeper Caitlyn Lazzarini palms left ringing from a shot lashed at her face.

Such an attacking approach left some fissures at the Clemson end. Pitt’s full backs were eager to send balls behind the Tigers’ back line, encouraging wingers to scamper downfield. It was from one of those moments where the Panthers really should have scored. Landy Mertz sprinted past two defenders, rounded the goalie, but lashed her shot wide from a narrowing angle. A second chance came a few minutes later, but Tigers’ defender Megan Bornkamp blocked a shot that seemed likely to ripple the back of the net.

As the game went on, opportunities were fewer. Lazzarini was called into action a few more times, including one dramatic save with less than 10 minutes to go. Still, the Panthers never allowed anything clear cut. In the final minutes every Pitt run was away from goal and towards the corner flag, valuable seconds killed as it clung on for a tie. The obligatory last minute move came, with Clemson launching all 10 outfield players up the pitch for the final 90 seconds — desperately seeking one final look. But it never materialized.

There was a buzz from the Pitt sidelines before the game had finished, players stood eagerly, occasionally stepping on the field, awaiting permission to sprint. And once that noise blared out, control was lost. Lazzarini sprayed water in the air, West ambled with delight in a large knee brace, the rest of the team gathered in an exhausted huddle in the middle of the pitch. It was the gathering of a team physically shattered, but far from broken.

So, Pitt held on, scraping its way into the ACC tournament for the first time in program history. And the journey might end soon. Although the Panthers are almost certain to feature in the NCAA Tournament, it’s difficult to see any silverware at the end of the season for this injured squad. But Thursday night wasn’t about a trophy. It was about a team that made a little bit of program history — and perhaps opened a pathway for those that follow.

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