The United Soccer Coaches released its preseason Men’s NCAA Division I rankings on Wednesday with the Pitt Panthers returning to near the top of the list, as they’re are ranked third.
This is the highest preseason ranking for the Pitt in the history of their program. Last season, Pitt started the season ranked No. 4.
Heading into the fall 2021 campaign, shortly after making it to its first-ever College Cup appearance in May, the Panthers have now been ranked in the United Soccer Coaches poll top 25 for a program-shattering 20 straight weeks.
Each of the four schools represented in the College Cup round out the top four, as defending National Champion Marshall holds the top spot, with Indiana University second. The Panthers are the highest ranked ACC school (one spot above North Carolina).
During the 2020-2021 season, led by veteran head coach Jay Vidovich, Pitt earned its first ACC Coastal Division title and were ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history for a total of eight weeks in the fall and spring.
The Panthers are expected to bring back a good number of players from the 2020-21 squad, with a few notable exceptions, as starters Alexander Dexter, Nico Campuzano, Bryce Washington and Jasper Loeffelsend have graduated.
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Pitt opens their exhibition season on August 14 when they host Robert Morris and their regular season opener is August 26 at home vs. Duquesne.
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