ACC Men’s Soccer
No. 8 Pitt (3-1-0) at No. 22 Southern Methodist University (SMU) (2-0-2)
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 | 8 PM (ET) | ACCNX | Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium, Dallas, TX
For the first time in program history, the Pitt men’s soccer program will square off with SMU, as the eighth-ranked Panthers will travel to face the 22nd-ranked Mustangs on Saturday evening at the Washburne Soccer and Track Stadium in Dallas.
Scouting the Mustangs
- SMU enters Saturday’s match, boasting a 2-0-2 ledger.
- Highlighted by a 1-0 victory over then-No. 6 Saint Louis, Saturday will mark the Mustangs’ third-consecutive match facing a top-10 foe.
- The Mustangs were picked to finish eighth in the 2024 Preseason ACC Coaches Poll, just one spot above Pitt.
- SMU is led by 2023 All-American and AAC Midfielder of the Year, senior Bailey Sparks.
- Sparks started all 19 games a season ago.
- He contributed two goals and five assists through the 2023 season, including a goal in the NCAA Tournament to help take SMU to the round of 16.
- Of note, Saturday’s match will mark SMU’s first ACC contest in any sport since joining the league.
Series History
- Sunday will mark Pitt’s first-ever match against SMU in the program’s 70-year history.
Last Time Out
Playing its second match in three days, Pitt dropped a 1-0 decision to Penn Sunday evening at Rhodes Field in Philadelphia. The loss marked the Panthers’ first of the 2024 campaign and their first to an Ivy League opponent since falling 3-2 to Harvard in 2015.
Penn took a 1-0 lead just before the halftime break, as Jack Wagoner fired a strike from the right wing in the 41st minute.
Despite facing its second halftime deficit in as many matches, Pitt began to control the tempo in the second frame.
The Panthers came away with several quality chances over the final 45 minutes of action but were unable to find the equalizer, dropping their first match of the 2024 season. Of note, Pitt controlled possession 65 percent for the contest, while earning 13 corners compared to only four for the Quakers.
Pitt’s National Ranking
|
|
United Soccer Coaches |
TopDrawerSoccer |
|
Week 1 |
NR |
NR |
|
Week 2 |
No. 3 |
No. 10 |
|
Week 3 |
No. 8 |
No. 12 |
Vidovich Reaches 350
Head coach Jay Vidovich earned his 350th-career win last Friday against Penn State, becoming one of only 11 active head coaches to reach the milestone.
International Flare
Pitt’s roster features players from nine different countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Spain, Norway, Switzerland and the United States.
Thorsen’s Hot Start
Albert Thorsen opened the 2024 season in stellar fashion, recording a goal and an assist in the Pitt’s 2-0 upset victory over then-No. 16 Georgetown. Thorsen then followed up his performance with a goal in Panthers’ 2-0 win over Mercyhurst.
Up Next
Pitt will return home to face No. 15 Louisville on Friday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET, and the match can be streamed via ACCNX.
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