Pitt women’s soccer beats Boston College in overtime for first ACC win since 2016

The Pitt women’s soccer team faced Boston College at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Thursday night, and expectations were tempered entering the matchup, as the Eagles had beaten the Panthers every year since 2013 and the Panthers had gone winless in the ACC for three years. However, Pitt managed to upset Boston College with a 2-1 overtime victory.

The first half came and went without a goal from either side, but Pitt outshot Boston College 8-5. The Panthers then capitalized on an opportunity early in the second half, as Pitt midfielder Cheyenne Hudson lofted a cross to Pitt midfielder Juliana Vazquez, who headed in a goal to put Pitt up 1-0 in the 50th minute.

After another lull in the action, the Eagles got on the board in the 75th minute thanks to Boston College defender Mia Karras, who tied the game at 1-1. Neither team would score again in regulation, forcing overtime. However, the overtime period would be short-lived.

In the 94th minute, Hudson once again created a chance with a well-placed cross. This one found Pitt forward Amanda West, who headed in the game-winning goal.

”It’s huge,” Hudson told Rachael McKriger of Pittsburgh Soccer Now after the game. “I’ve been here four years, and we’ve never won [against Boston College]. And last year, this team beat us 7-0. So just to come back and actually beat them and to get an ACC win, it’s just incredible. I can’t explain how it feels right now. It’s literally like you’re on cloud nine.”

Prior to Thursday night, Pitt’s last ACC win was on Oct. 9, 2016, against Miami. In that matchup, Pitt midfielder Hanna Hannesdottir provided the team with a golden goal in double-overtime for a 1-0 win in Pittsburgh.

This time around, the game-winner was provided by West, a freshman who has distinguished herself as the program’s most prolific offensive threat in years. Through 13 games, she has eight goals and seven assists for a total of 23 points. That ties West with Charity McClure for the second-highest single-season point total in program history. She is three points removed from the record, 26, which was set by Cande Ruiz in 1998.

With the win, which was the first ACC victory of Pitt head coach Randy Waldrum’s tenure in Pittsburgh, the team improves to 4-6-3 overall and 1-2-2 in conference. Meanwhile, Boston College falls to 8-4-1 overall and 1-4-0 in ACC play. Pitt will look to maintain its momentum against No. 3 North Carolina on Sunday. The game will be the second of a three-game homestand, and kickoff from Ambrose Urbanic Field is set for 1 p.m. ET.