FINAL: No. 5 North Carolina 2, Pitt 1, 2OT

13′ | PITT STRIKES FIRST!

GOOOOAAAALLLL EDWARD KIZZA!

The sophomore nets his fourth goal of the year.

Pitt 1, #5 North Carolina 0

#H2P https://t.co/fHPdvbYP1d

Pitt (1-2) vs #5 North Carolina (3-1)

Sept. 8 at 7 p.m.

Duke University’s Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.

LIVE STATS | WATCH | GAME NOTES

Pitt’s men’s soccer team will open Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play against No. 5 North Carolina on Saturday, Due to ongoing construction at UNC’s soccer stadium, Saturday’s match will be played at Duke University’s Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.

PANTHERS LAST TIME OUT

· It’s the second straight game Pitt will be facing a team that made it to the NCAA Final Four (College Cup) a year ago, as they fell to then-ranked No. 4 Akron, 1-0, Saturday, Sept. 1 at Cub Cadet Field.

· The lone goal of the match was scored in the fifth minute by Zip sophomore David Egbo.

· The Panthers closed the match with advantages in shots (13-9) and corners (7-4).

THE SERIES – NORTH CAROLINA

· The Panthers and Tar Heels will be meeting for the sixth time in program history, with UNC owning a 5-0 all-time series edge against Pitt.

· During his time at both Wake Forest and Pitt, head coach Jay Vidovich has compiled a 9-11-6 record against North Carolina.

· In the teams’ most recent meeting in 2017, the then 10^th-ranked Tar Heels earned a 2-1 win over the Panthers in Pittsburgh.

SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS

· North Carolina enters Saturday’s match with a 3-1 record, most recently earning a 2-0 win against Jacksonville Monday, Sept. 3.

· The Tar Heels finished the 2017 season with a 17-4-1 overall record, including a 6-1-1 mark against ACC competition.

· The 2017 squad would go on to advance to the Final Four of the NCAA College Cup before falling, 2-0, to Indiana.

· North Carolina is led by head coach Carlos Somoano, who enters his eighth year with the program. Somoano has compiled a 107-26-21 (.763) record during his time with the Tar Heels.

· Through four games, five different UNC players have recorded a goal. Senior Nils Bruening, junior Mauricio Pineda and sophomore’s Giovanni Montesdeoca and Alex Rose have each collected two goals apiece, while junior Jelani Pieters has added one score.

· In goal, senior James Pyle has started all four matches for the Tar Heels, recording two shutouts while collecting four saves and allowing two goals.

SIZING UP THE 2018 SLATE

· Pitt faces some tough competition in the 2018 season, with a schedule that includes 12 NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago.

· The Panthers have already faced two ranked opponents this season in then-ranked No. 25 Colgate and No. 4 Akron.

· Of Pitt’s remaining 14 matches, seven teams are currently ranked in the top 25 of the United Coaches Poll, while two other squads are receiving votes.

UP NEXT

· The Panthers will continue their road stretch as they travel to Richmond, Va., to face VCU Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at SportsBackers Stadium.