The No. 5 Sarah Schupansky has emblazoned across the front and back of her Pitt women’s soccer jersey holds a particular significance for the 2021 North Allegheny graduate.
So, too, does the No. 4 worn by Panthers teammate Ellie Coffield, a Mars product, and the No. 6 donned by Landy Mertz, an Upper St. Clair native.
“When we go out for the lineup it’s always, like, ‘From Pittsburgh, Landy Mertz; from Pittsburgh, Sarah Schupansky; from Pittsburgh, Ellie Coffield,’” Schupansky said. “It always makes us laugh just because it’s like we’re playing for Pitt, we’re from Pittsburgh. It’s probably what you would expect. We went there, we committed to Pitt, because of how special the city and the school is to us.”
Once Pitt takes the field, however, not too many of its opponents are laughing these days.
Panthers coach Randy Waldrum’s team, ranked 20th in the nation, advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference women’s tournament semifinals for the first time in school history Sunday night with a 2-1 overtime victory against No. 3 North Carolina at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill.
It was the first time Pitt has defeated North Carolina in school history.
The significance of that victory coming in conference tournament action, against a team that advanced to the 2022 NCAA Division I national championship game, on the field named for Tar Heels coach Anson Dorrance — a former World Cup winning head coach of the U.S. women’s national team — was not lost on Schupansky and her teammates.
“The program that coach Waldrum promised to allow us to be a part of, he keeps delivering on that promise every single day,” Schupansky said. “We’re competing against the best teams in the country. Now we’re beating the best teams in the country. It’s unbelievable.
“Those are two very special players and two very special people,” she added of Mertz and Coffield. “I am thankful every single day that Pitt brought me those two players.”
And the trio figured prominently in helping the Panthers deal North Carolina its first loss of the season.
Coffield notched the first goal of the match, which was assisted by Mertz, who also joined with Schupansky to assist on the game winner by Amanda West in the 98th minute of overtime.
After the game, Schupansky said she knew just who to find.
“I just keep thinking about running to Landy Mertz and Ellie Coffield at the end of the game, and we were just looking at each other in awe that we did it,” Schupansky said.
Don’t count Waldrum among those so in shock over Pitt’s latest victory.
“We’re all ecstatic around here,” Waldrum said. “It’s huge on so many fronts, to be honest with you. It’s kind of a testament to the players and what we’ve been building over the past two or three years.”
After battling through a slew of injuries to key players to earn its first NCAA tournament berth in school history last season, Waldrum said Pitt entered the 2023 campaign looking to take another step in its evolution. He added the Panthers have a real shot at vying for an ACC title before bettering its 2022 NCAA tournament run that saw his team earn victories against Buffalo and Georgetown before succumbing to Florida State in the Round of 16.
“I think the biggest thing we wanted to do was get to a point where we are getting over the hump with some of these top teams,” Waldrum said.
Schupansky has been critical to Pitt’s success this season, scoring 10 goals with 10 assists and 30 points. The junior currently is first in the ACC in points, while she sits in second in the conference in goals and assists.
“Every year she’s been here she’s just gotten better and better,” Waldrum said. “She’s playing with such confidence now, and she knows she’s one of the best players in the country.”
Waldrum said Schupansky excels in taking corner and free kicks for the Panthers, but her versatility may be the most critical weapon in her arsenal.
Schupansky has played all five midfield and forward positions for Pitt this season but most recently has found a steady home as the Panthers’ starting center midfielder.
“A lot of players can’t handle that,” Waldrum said.
For Schupansky, doing anything her team asks of her is a source of pride. She said her coaches work diligently with her to prepare for playing different positions and she’s found comfort from reaching out to her former Pittsburgh Riverhounds Development Academy coaches for additional support.
“If I’m on the field and I’m playing, I’m grateful for that,” Schupansky said. “I’ve told the coaches wherever you need me, I’ll go.
“I think that versatility is a huge asset to any player’s repertoire and arsenal,” she added. “So, for the coaches to be helping me expand my game, that’s how I view it.”
Schupansky said the success of her teammates has also been important to her development.
Junior forward Samiah Phiri has 10 goals for Pitt, while fifth-year senior forward Amanda West has nine goals and eight assists.
Coffield, a junior midfielder, has tallied five goals and two assists, and Mertz, a fifth-year senior midfielder, has three goals and nine assists.
“The assists wouldn’t happen if my teammates weren’t finishing the balls I put in, and the goals wouldn’t happen if my teammates weren’t getting me to the ball,” Schupansky said. “I attribute it all to them and all to the coaches. Nothing would happen without them. I obviously worked as hard as I could in this offseason to try to come into this season at a new level.”
And Pitt will next try to bring its program to another level in the ACC tournament.
The Panthers will face No. 1 Florida State in a semifinal match at 8 p.m. Thursday at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
It will be another critical measuring stick for Pitt, which dropped a tough 3-2 decision to the Seminoles Oct. 19 in Tallahassee.
“I think that this team is capable of doing it all,” Schupansky said. “I think that the heart and desire and the chemistry that we have and the coaches that we have and the staff that we have, I think we are capable of doing amazing things.
“We keep breaking records and making history every single day, every single game,” she added. “There’s not a game we go into now where we don’t think we have a chance.”
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.