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Pitt’s Valentin Noel named as MAC Hermann Trophy finalist

Photo courtesy Ed Thompson

From University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department report

The United Soccer Coaches and Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) named Pitt men’s soccer sophomore midfielder Valentin Noel a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist today.

The MAC Hermann Trophy, presented by World Wide Technology, is the most coveted individual honor in NCAA Division I soccer and has been awarded annually since 1967. The 2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy banquet will be held at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on May 27, 2021 to formally announce this year’s winners.

Noel enters the NCAA College Cup as one of the nation’s leaders in multiple offensive categories. He is second in the country in goals (14), third in total points (30), ninth in goals per game (0.78) and 17th in points per game (1.67). His total goal count and total points are currently tied for fifth in program history for a single season.

The Niort, France, native has been an instrumental piece to Pitt’s College Cup run, scoring in 11 of the teams’ 19 games. Noel broke a school record during the fall campaign, scoring a goal in six consecutive games played from Oct. 10 to Nov. 22. The previous record was three, a streak he currently owns with goals against Monmouth, UCF and Washington in the NCAA Tournament.

Noel has three multi-goal games this year and has also tallied two assists on the season. He became the first Panther in history to score a goal in the ACC Championship Final against Clemson Nov. 22. He becomes the first Panther in program history to be named a finalist for the prestigious award.

Noel joins Oregon State’s Gloire Amanda and Indiana’s Victor Bezerra as men’s finalists. Three women’s finalists include Florida State’s Jaelin Howell and Malia Berkely and North Carolina’s Brianna Pinto.

No. 2 Pitt faces No. 3 Indiana in the NCAA College Cup Semifinal Friday, May 14 at 8:30 p.m.  The match will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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