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Preview & Game Notes: No. 10 Pitt vs Virginia, 7 p.m.

ACC Men’s Soccer

Pitt (5-2-1, 2-1-0 ACC) vs Virginia (6-3-0, 2-1-0 ACC)

Stream on ACC Network Extra HERE | Live stats HERE.

 

Match Updates

Look for updates from Ambrose Urbanic Field including starting lineups and match highlights — as Dom Campbell will be on site with PSN’s coverage.


 

 

Preview & PSN Pitt Men’s Soccer Coverage 

No. 10 Pitt men’s soccer team opens up a three-game homestand Friday night as they welcome the Virginia Cavaliers to Ambrose Urbanic Field for an ACC showdown. Pitt will be looking for their fifth home win of the season Friday as they have been one of the best teams in the nation on their home turf over the past three seasons.

NCAA Men’s United Soccer Coaches Rankings: Pitt drops to 10th, Duquesne inches up to 24th

 

FINAL: Louisville 2, Pitt 1

Game Notes 

THE SERIES – VIRGINIA

  • This meeting marks the 14th all-time between the two programs with the Cavaliers owning the 7-4-2 advantage in the series.
  • The Panthers are 4-0-1 in the last five games in the series as they earned a 2-2 road draw in Charlottesville last season. Valentin Noel netted both goals for the Panthers in the tie.
  • The Cavaliers are 3-1-1 all-time in games played in Pittsburgh against the Panthers.
  • The Cavaliers won the first five games in the all-time series but Pitt is 4-2-2 against Virginia in the last eight games.

SCOUTING THE CAVALIERS

  • Virginia enters Friday’s match with a 6-3 overall record and a 2-1 ACC mark. The Cavaliers have won two straight including a 1-0 road win over #3 Syracuse last time out.
  • The Cavaliers are led offensively by Leo Afonso who has a team-high five goals (three game-winners), one assist and 11 points on a team-high 40 shots. Kome Ubogu also has recorded five goals while Daniel Mangarov has two goals and two assists in eight matches.
  • In goal, Holden Brown has started all nine matches for Virginia and holds a 1.22 goals-against average and .633 save percentage while securing an ACC-leading five cleansheets on the year.

PANTHERS RANKED FOR NCAA-LEADING 37TH STRAIGHT WEEK

  • The Pitt program has turned into a fixture in the national polls since head coach Jay Vidovich took over the program seven years.
  • Pitt is ranked No. 10 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll, No. 10 in the TopDrawerSoccer Top-25 Poll and No. 12 in the College Soccer News Top-30 Poll.
  • Pitt has been ranked in all seven United Soccer Coaches Polls this season.
  • Overall, Pitt has been ranked for 37 straight weeks in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. The streak of being ranked is currently the longest in the NCAA.
  • Pitt has earned a top-10 ranking in 32 of those 37 straight weeks.
  • Pitt has been ranked No. 1 in the poll for eight weeks since the poll started in 1996.

HOME TURF ADVANTAGE

  • The Panthers have been one of the best teams in the country on their home turf over the last four seasons as they own a 28-3-2 record at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
  • Pitt held a 19-match home winning streak from Oct. 7, 2019 to Nov. 10, 2021, which at the time was the longest streak in the ACC and second longest unbeaten streak in the nation.
  • Head coach Jay Vidovich is 34-16-4 at home in his seven seasons at Pitt.
  • Since the start of the 2019 season, Pitt has outscored its opponents 100-32 at home including a 16-4 advantage this season.
  • The Panthers win percentage (.879) at home over the past four seasons is the best in the ACC and third overall in the NCAA.

Home Win % Since 2019

# TEAM                  RECORD             %
1. Georgetown        34-2-5           .890
2. Missouri State     31-3-2           .889
3. Pitt                     28-3-2           .879
4. New Hampshire   26-2-4           .875
5. Yale                      13-1-2            .875

UP NEXT

  • Pitt returns home Friday, Oct. 7 as they welcome #17 Clemson to Ambrose Urbanic Field for a 8:00 pm ACC match. Friday’s top-20 matchup will air on ACC Network.
  • Friday’s match will be the ninth meeting between the two squads all-time with the Tigers owning the 6-2 series advantage.
  • Pitt won the last meeting between the two teams last year 2-0 in Clemson as Bertin Jacquesson scored one of the two goals for the Panthers in the win.

 

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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