Amanda West sets record for career goals at Pitt

Pitt forward Amanda West made program history in the Panthers’ first game of the 2021 season on Thursday, as she gained sole possession of the program record for career goals by scoring her 24th. West entered the game tied with former Pitt forward Ashley Cuba at 23 goals apiece, but she surpassed her about 20 minutes into the contest.

The historic goal came in Pitt’s season-opening 3-0 shutout of Tulsa in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Thursday. With Pitt up 1-0 on a goal by former WPIAL star Ellie Coffield in the 17th minute, West was awarded a free kick just outside the Golden Hurricane goal box.

The Canadian star aimed her shot to the left of Tulsa’s line, slipping it by with ease. And with the force she put behind the kick, Golden Hurricane goalkeeper Emma Malsey had virtually no shot at making the stop.

The goal was just one part of a solid game for West, as she also logged an assist on Coffield’s goal, bringing her point total for the season to three in a matter of roughly 20 minutes.

West entered Thursday’s competition as the ACC’s top returning scorer for the 2021 season, as she amassed 13 goals last season, ranking second only to North Carolina star Brianna Pinto, who had 14 and was selected by Gotham FC in the first round of the NWSL draft.

The junior forward is also the ACC’s returning points leader, as she accrued 33 points by adding seven assists to her 13 goals last season. That performance gave her the program record for career points, which now sits at 62. And if West takes advantage of all her remaining eligibility and maintains her current pace, she could double the previous Pitt program records for goals and points.