Graduate student midfielder Matt Bailey was named Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance at No. 2 Clemson Saturday, Sept. 25.
The Kent Island, Md., native scored his first career Panther goal in the 58th minute against the Tigers. The midfielder received a pass from junior Veljko Petkovic down the left sideline and drove a low right-footed strike toward the back post, ultimately finding the net as the ball went passed the outstretched gloves of the opposing goalkeeper.
Bailey’s goal proved to be the game-winner in Pitt’s 2-0 defeat of Clemson on the road. The win at Historic Riggs Field snapped a 31 match home winning streak for the Tigers. The victory was the second top-five win of the season for Pitt, recently defeating No. 4 North Carolina at home Sept. 10.
A transfer from UMBC, Bailey’s Pitt career numbers include one goal, two assists and five shots on goal in 35 career games played.
Bailey appeared in 17 matches with the Panthers in 2019, starting nine times and has been an important part of Head Coach Jay Vidovich’s midfield rotation. In the 2020 fall campaign, he made two starts and a bunch of off-the-bench appearances The 5-foot-7 Bailey can plug in as a pacey winger or an attacking mid, and is a danger on the ball. In total, he had 14 appearances, starting three times during Pitt’s remarkable 2020-21 campaign.
We featured Bailey earlier this calendar year on Pittsburgh Soccer Now.
He is the second Panther to be named ACC Offensive Player of the Week this season, joining Petkovic, who earned the award Aug. 31.
Analysis: Pitt gets its mojo back with statement win at Clemson