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Tues #PGHSoccer College Men Slate: Duquesne/Cleveland St On ESPN 3, Pitt hosts Loyola (Md)

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If you want to watch one of our local college teams in action tonight, you can catch the Duquesne (3-2) men take on Cleveland State (4-3) on ESPN3 and Watch ESPN tonight at 7 p.m. 
In addition, Pitt will be hosting Loyola (MD), at home at Ambrose Pribanic Field tonight (also a 7 p.m. kickoff).
Here’s a primer for both games…

DUQUENSE at CLEVELAND STATE

dukes
THE SERIES
This is the 10th meeting between the Dukes and Vikings, with the series knotted at 4-4-1. In games played in Cleveland, CSU leads 2-1-1. Last year, Cleveland State got a goal in the 15th minute and held on to defeat the Dukes 1-0 in the second round of the Duquesne Invitational on Rooney Field.
QUICK HITS
• This is the 22nd season for the Duquesne men’s soccer program.
• All three Duquesne wins have come in dramatic fashion on Rooney Field: Olav Hovstad scored in the 100th minute to give the Dukes a 2-1 come-from-behind OT win over Saint Francis on Aug. 26. DU scored twice in the final 5:04 – with Fredrik Borenstein netting the game-winner in 89th minute – of a 2-1 win over Wofford on Sept 9 and Austin Stout scored with five seconds left in the first overtime to give Duquesne a 1-0 win over Canisius on Sept. 11.
• DU’s first five games have all been decided by one goal.
• The Dukes followed the SFU game with a 1-0 loss at then-No. 17 Kentucky on August 30. DU nearly came back from a 3-0 halftime deficit in a 3-2 defeat at Wright State on Labor Day. The Dukes got goals from Zach Hall in the 61st minute and Borenstein in the 73rd, but could not find the back of the net again before time expired.
• Duquesne’s first three opponents: Saint Francis U (2nd in Northeast), then-No. 17 Kentucky (1st in Conference USA) and Wright State (T1st in Horizon) were all picked first or second in their conference’s preseason poll.
• Cleveland State is the second Horizon League member on the Dukes’ non-conference schedule.
• The Vikings own wins over a pair of future DU opponents in Robert Morris (W, 4-2) and Dayton (W, 3-0). Dayton was picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll.
• DU and CSU have faced one common opponent in Saint Francis U. Duquesne defeated the Red Flash 2-1 (OT) at home on Aug. 26, while the Vikings suffered a 3-0 loss at SFU on Aug. 21.
• Cleveland State is 1-1 at home.
• The Dukes are outscoring opponents 7-2 in the second half and overtime through five games.
• Balance has been the early-season theme for the Dukes who have seven players with two or more points. DU’s seven goals have come from five players: Fredrik Borenstein (2), Chris Alescio, Olav Hovstad, Zach Hall and Austin Stout (plus one own goal).
• Freshman Ryan Landry is tied with Bryan Fegley for the team lead with two assists, including a feed on Olav Hovstad’s game-winner in the win over Saint Francis U.
• Junior midfielder Fredrik Borenstein, DU’s top returning point-getter with seven last season, leads the team with two goals and four points. The Norway native also leads the team in career goals with eight. Senior Chris Alescio ranks second on the team with six career goals, including one this season.
• DU goalkeeper Evan Kozlowski is coming off an MVP performance in the Sept. 9 & 11 Duquesne Invitational. The redshirt senior posted six saves in wins over Wofford (2-1) and Canisius (1-0). The Canisius game (four saves) was his second career shutout. Borenstein, Alescio and Stout joined Kozlowski on the Invitational All-Tournament Team.
 

PITT (1-4-1, 0-2-0 ACC) vs LOYOLA (MD) (1-5, 0-0 Patriot League)

 
THE SERIES
– Pitt and Loyola clash for the first time.
 
LAST TIME OUT
– The Panthers fell to ACC opponent and then-ranked No. 2 North Carolina, 1-0, Friday evening in Chapel Hill, N.C.
– The Tar Heels first struck in the 37th minute and the Pitt defense would limit them to just that.
– Redshirt freshman Mikal Outcalt made five saves in goal.
 
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
– Loyola comes to Pittsburgh after falling 5-1 to UConn Saturday, Sept. 17, in Storrs, Conn.
– The Greyhounds are led by freshman Brian Saramago with five points (2 goals, one assist).
– Senior Matt Sanchez has appeared in goal for all six games this season, tallying 18 saves with one shutout.
– Loyola concluded the 2015-16 campaign 2-13-2 overall with a 0-8-1 mark in conference play.
 
NEWS & INFO
– Outcalt has made an ACC best 26 saves (4.33 avg.) this season.
– Freshman Luca Mellor paces the Panthers with four points after netting back-to-back goals in a win over Saint Joseph’s (Sept. 4).
– The Panthers concluded preseason play 1-1 after falling to West Virginia 2-0 and defeating Duquesne 2-1 in double overtime.
– Pitt’s 18-game regular season schedule is highlighted by four matchups against teams ranked in the top 20 of the NSCAA Preseason Poll in North Carolina, Notre Dame, Boston College and Virginia.
– The Panthers enter their fourth season as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
 
VIDOVICH ENTERS FIRST YEAR
– Head coach Jay Vidovich (273-125-51, 76-54-22 ACC) is in his first year at the helm of the Pitt men’s soccer program.
– Vidovich, a two-time NSCAA Coach of the Year honoree, came to Pitt after spending 21 seasons at Wake Forest, which was highlighted by capturing the 2007 NCAA championship.
– Under his regime, Wake Forest won five Atlantic Coast Conference titles, compiling a 76-52-22 mark in one of the nation’s most challenging leagues.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
– Pitt returns to ACC action Friday, Sept. 23, with another trip to North Carolina as the Panthers take on the Duke Blue Devils at 7 p.m. in Durham.
 

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

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