Syracuse Renews Rivalry with No. 17 Pitt on Saturday

By: Hudson Ridley | @Hudson_Ridley

Syracuse women’s soccer takes on No. 17 Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 14. While the Orange haven’t had much success in the ACC in recent years, SU and Pitt remain one of the closer rivalries in the conference. Let’s first take a look back on the history between both sides:

Early Days (2000-2009)

The 2000s saw a fierce back-and-forth between both sides. Six of the seven matchups ended in one-score games with neither side developing a clear edge. SU finished this stretch with a 2-3-2 record against the Panthers with both ties coming in double overtime thrillers. These close games would set the foundation for years to come.

Escalating Rivalry (2010-2019)

At the turn of the decade, SU had immediate success against Pitt. After a tie in 2010, the Orange went on to record three dominant wins. In that stretch from 2011 to 2013, the cumulative score was 9-0 in favor of Syracuse. Following those blowouts, Pitt flipped a switch. The Panthers returned to what they once were and put the rivalry back on with more close games. The next three games were separated by one goal. Overall SU went 5-2-2 in this stretch.

Recent Years (2020-2022)

The last few matchups haven’t been too kind to the Orange. Pitt has run away with the last three games leaving SU in the dust. Scores of 2-0, 4-2 and again 2-0 have flipped this rivalry on its head. The Panthers have taken the series lead for the first time since 2011, now leading the all time series with an 8-7-4 record.

Now

When Syracuse and Pitt face off on Saturday it’ll be a matchup of two teams going in very different directions. The Panthers are having one of their best seasons in program history. An 11-2-1 record has brought the program to new heights, and as of this week, new rankings. After being unranked for the entirety of this season, the Panthers finally cracked the top 25, shooting up to No. 17 as of this week. On the other side of things, SU has been trending down. Recent weeks have seen the Orange’s injury situation worsen. Last week against Louisville, midfielder Ashley Rauch picked up a knee injury. With her status in question, SU needs a lot of new production in order to have a chance with the Panthers.

Kickoff from SU Soccer Stadium is slated for Saturday, October 14 at 1:00 p.m.

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