Pitt men’s soccer adds Marshall transfer Marco Silva

The first bit of recruiting news coming from Pitt men’s soccer for 2025 came on Friday when they announced that midfielder Marco Silva has transferred from Marshall.

Welcome to the Steel City, Marco 🔵🟡

Join us in welcoming our first January addition! pic.twitter.com/s7UwZHNSfV

— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) January 31, 2025

The Coopersburg, PA native has been a key piece of Marshall’s success the past two years, starting 16 of 24 matches on a team that reached NCAA Division I College Cup Final, where they lost to the Vermont Catamounts in Extra Time.

In 2024, Silva scored five goals and created two assists, with a goal in the 3-2 win over SMU in the Quarterfinals (Elite Eight), earning as second straight College Cup appearance.

Silva will have two more years of eligibility and will join fellow YSC Academy alums on Pitt in senior defender Jackson Gilman and redshirt sophomore midfielder Logan Oliver.

Silva attended Emmaus High School, then transferred to the prestigious all-boys boarding school, South Kent School, in Kent, CT.

He also played for YSC Academy and in the Philadelphia Union Academy, before committing to Marshall in the Class of 2022.

In his three seasons at Marshall, Silva took a redshirt year in 2022, but started 11 of the 17 matches for the Thundering Herd in 2023, scoring seven goals and creating four assists, as they made it to the Sweet 16 (Third Round) of the NCAA Tournament.

Pitt is expected to bring back a strong core from a team that reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the fourth time in five years and was very highly ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for much of the 2024 campaign.

Two players who won’t return in 2025, will be Michael Sullivan, who was taken by Toronto FC in the MLS SuperDraft and Casper Grening, who had a year of eligibility, but signed on with AB Copenhagen in his home country of Denmark.

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John Krysinsky

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).