ACC Men’s Soccer
FINAL: Pitt 4, North Carolina 0
Game Summary
The Pitt Panthers reaffirmed their place at the top of the ACC’s Coastal Division with an impressive 4-0 win, and its first-ever victory against No. 3 North Carolina before another packed house at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Friday evening.
“I’m excited for our program’s first win against UNC. Great to see this crowd like this. The 12th man get involved, and it helped us,” Pitt’s Head Coach Jay Vidovich said. That type of atmosphere is fantastic in college soccer. It was part of our guys’ mentality. It was a great result for our program to bounce back like that.”
Getting his first start this season, Rodrigo Almeida made the most of his chances, scoring twice in the first half while Veljko Petkovic and Valentin Noel also added goals as the Panthers rolled to victory.
Once Pitt solved UNC’s high press, they got forward into quick scoring opportunities with lots of space. The Panthers were extremely efficient, scoring its first four goals on six shot attempts.
With the win, Pitt (3-2, 1-0 in ACC) jumps out to an early lead in the ACC’s Coastal Division.
The Panthers are also now 1-8-0 all-time against the Tar Heels and have won 12 straight matches at Ambrose Urbanic Field dating back to 2019, when they lost to UNC.
Pitt returns to action on Monday night, when they face yet another tough road challenge, as they’ll visit Penn State.
Gameday Updates
Look for lineups to be posted below along with game updates/highlights throughout the evening.
FINAL… PITT 4, UNC 0
70′ — Pitt continues to be in control. Absorbing more pressure, but looking sharp and solid in defensive shape and possession.
49′ — Yellow card for Loeffelsend (Pitt)
48′ — PITT 4, UNC 0
GOAL Valentin Noel
It started with a great ball by Petkovic to the left side.
Alexander Dexter beats UNC defender to ball, then sends low cross for Noel.
48′
4-0 Pitt in control.
HALF — PITT 3, UNC 0
Great first half for Pitt, who turned things up a notch once they started to solve UNC’s high press.
Pair of Rodrigo Almeida goals leading the way.
36′ — PITT 3, UNC 0
What a fabulous finish from Rodrigo Almeida for his second goal in this 1st half.
Almeida caught UNC keeper Alec Smir off his line after he gets to a deflected thru ball from Valentin Noel.
Almeida now tied with Petkovic for team lead with four goals.
24′ — UNC shot blocked by Almeida — sets up corner, which Pitt cleared away.
No place like home 🏠 for @Rodrigom26, who scores his third goal of the season at Ambrose Urbanic Field!#H2P pic.twitter.com/mzGQ6C20io
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) September 10, 2021
18′ — PITT 2, UNC 0
Rodrigo Almeida
Petkovic freezes the keeper and defender and lays off the ball after rebound from Valentin Noel shot comes to his foot. UNC has no answers for Pitt right now.
#️⃣2️⃣ 🤝 #️⃣1️⃣9️⃣
Pitt's first goal of the evening.#H2P pic.twitter.com/jEiazNQmnZ
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) September 10, 2021
12′ – PITT 1, UNC 0
Pitt gets on the board early! 12′ goal coming from Veljko Petkovic! 1-0 Pitt leads UNC
Here’s Pitt’s starters.
Our starting 1️⃣1️⃣ vs. No. 4 North Carolina
Kick-off in 10 minutes.#H2P pic.twitter.com/eWsOb1JX06
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) September 10, 2021
Preview
ACC Men’s Soccer begins conference play this weekend with six match-ups including the showdown of 2020 College Cup semifinalists as North Carolina visits Pitt.
It marks the first of eight straight weekends of regular-season league action in the ACC.
“They’re a quality program. Quality student-athletes. They’re well-organized. They’ve won championships. They’ll maintain possession and they don’t concede,” Pitt Head Coach Jay Vidovich said, lauding an opposing program he’s very familiar with not only from his time coaching at Pitt, but 20 years at Wake Forest.
The last time they met, North Carolina handed Pitt its only regular season loss in the 2020-21 season in Chapel Hill.
PSN Pitt Men’s Soccer Coverage
Pitt men’s soccer face early season adversity as ACC schedule begins
Pitt Game Notes
THE SERIES – NORTH CAROLINA
- Dating back to 2013, North Carolina leads the all-time series 8-0-0.
- The Tar Heels won the last meeting, a 3-0 decision in Chapel Hill Mar. 5, 2021.
- Head Coach Jay Vidovich is 9-14-6 all-time against North Carolina.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
- Like Pitt, North Carolina earned a trip to the 2020 College Cup in Cary, N.C., a season ago. UNC lost to eventual national champion Marshall in the national semifinal.
- The Tar Heels enter with an overall record of 3-0-1. Last season, UNC went 9-5-4 overall and 7-2-3 in ACC play.
- UNC enters the match as the nation’s leader in corner kicks per game (10.75), shots per game (26.25) and shots on goal per game (9.75). In a 1-1 draw against VCU earlier this year, North Carolina shot 50 times and drew 17 corner kicks.
- Ernest Bawa is tied for second in the ACC with Veljko Petkovic for total goals with three. Bawa is third in the league in points (7) and second in goals per game (0.75).
- The Tar Heels have outscored their opponent 14-1 for the season and 6-0 in the past two matches. UNC has kept opposing offenses at bay, allowing only 11 shots in total and a .091 shot percentage.
TOP-10 OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
- Through four matches this season, the Panthers rank in the top-10 in total assists, goals and points in the nation.
- Pitt is ninth in the country in total assists (11) and eighth in total goals (11) and points (33).
- Graduate student Jasper Löeffelsend and sophomore Filip Mirkovic each have three assists, ranking tied for sixth in the nation and tied for second in the ACC in that category.
HOME TURF ADVANTAGE
- Pitt looks to keep a home winning streak alive Friday night, as it has won 12-straight matches at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
- The Panthers’ last home loss dates back to Oct. 27, 2018, a 1-0 decision to No. 23 Notre Dame.
- Head Coach Jay Vidovich is 21-15-3 at home in six plus seasons at Pitt and is 11-2-1 in the past two seasons at Ambrose Urbanic.
PITT NO. 15 IN UPDATED RANKINGS
- The Panthers enter the North Carolina match ranked No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
- The updated poll, which is distributed every Tuesday afternoon, reflects games played from Monday, Aug. 30 to Sunday, Sept. 5.
- This marks the 22nd-straight week the Panthers have been ranked.