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Pitt can clinch ACC Coastal Division regular season title on Thursday

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

Pitt and North Carolina both still have a chance to win the Atlantic Coast Conference’s men’s soccer Coastal Division regular season title.

After its 2-0 win vs Notre Dame on Saturday, Pitt is 12-2 overall and sitting at the top of the Coastal Division standings with a 4-1 record in ACC spring season.  Pitt is currently two points ahead of North Carolina (6-4-3, 3-1-1), with one game remaining for both teams.

Both Pitt and North Carolina will each play their final match on Thursday night with both matches kicking off simultaneously (7 p.m. EST).  The Panthers will host Virginia, while North Carolina visits rival Duke.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now plans to have on-site coverage of Pitt’s match vs Virginia on Thursday.

With a win, Pitt will clinch the Coastal Division. If Pitt ties UVA, they’ll need North Carolina to lose or draw.  North Carolina holds the head-to-head edge vs Pitt by virtue of winning their lone match, 3-0 earlier this Spring in Chapel Hill.

Coastal Division winner to take on Clemson for NCAA Tournament Automatic Bid 

In addition, the final week of the ACC men’s soccer 2020-21 regular season has its most significant development come without a game being played.

Following Tuesday morning’s announcement from the Syracuse men’s soccer program regarding the immediate end to its spring season, Clemson has won the ACC’s Atlantic Division for the 2021 spring season.

 

The ACC set-up determining its automatic NCAA Tournament bid before the Spring season by establishing a potential play-in game between the Coastal Division champion and Atlantic Division champion to face Clemson (ACC Tournament champion in the Fall).  With Clemson winning the Atlantic Division, the play-in game will be bypassed in this scenario.

This sets up Clemson hosting the winner of the Coastal Division (either Pitt or North Carolina) in a match on April 17 at Historic Riggs Field to determine the recipient of the conference’s automatic bid into the 2021 NCAA tournament. That match will kick-off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACCN.

The past two seasons, Clemson has captured the 2019 and 2021 Atlantic Division titles, along with the 2020 ACC Championship.

Syracuse was scheduled to host Wake Forest on Friday, April 9; however, today’s news has canceled that match and ended Wake Forest’s regular season. Clemson has earned 13 points through its opening five matches of ACC play this spring and will conclude its regular season on the road against Louisville on April 9 at 7 p.m.

Pitt faced Clemson previously during the 2020-21 season in the ACC Tournament final, losing 2-0, in November.

FINAL: ACC Men’s Soccer Championship: Clemson 2, Pitt 1

In the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, Clemson was ranked first, with Pitt ranked 5th.

NCAA Tournament to be played in its entity in North Carolina

The Division I Competition Oversight Committee on March 25 approved a proposal that would consolidate the Division I Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships by having all 48 women’s teams and all 36 men’s teams compete in Cary, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas.

It also minimizes the number of local and state health jurisdiction guidelines by which to abide. In addition, the proposal centralizes and provides efficiencies for COVID-19 testing sites and setup.

Selections for both championships will be April 19, and both tournaments will conclude with the NCAA College Cups at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary. The women’s national semifinals will be May 13 and the men’s May 14, while both national champions will be crowned May 17.

Other dates for the tournaments are:

  • First round — Women, April 27-28; Men, April 29.
  • Second round — Women, April 30-May 1; Men, May 2.
  • Third round — Women, May 5; Men, May 6.
  • Quarterfinals — Women, May 9; Men, May 10.

 

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).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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