Pitt men’s soccer delivers ‘gutsy performance’ in battling No. 1 NC State in 1-1 draw

FINAL:   Pitt 1, NC State 1

Match Stats 

INSTANT MATCH SUMMARY

In a hard-fought match, with little rhythm and lots of whistles, Pitt men’s soccer team battled No. 1 NC State to a 1-1 draw at Ambrose Urbanic Field on Friday night.

Arnau Vilamitjana scored Pitt’s goal in the 12th minute on a set piece to answer Kiski School alum Donovan Phillip’s goal for the Wolfpack in the opening stages. Pitt goalkeeper Jack Moxom was outstanding, making seven saves.

Vilamitjana’s equalizer was the first goal allowed this season by NC State.

“It was a gutsy performance,” Jay Vidovich, Pitt Head Coach told Pittsburgh Soccer Now shortly after the match.

With the result, the Panthers (4-4-2 overall, 0-2-1 in ACC) picked up their first points in ACC play.

How It Happened 

The match started with a quick strike at the start of the second minute, as the United Coaches Poll’s top side played direct at the start to the NCAA Division One’s leading goal scorer and former Kiski School product, Donovan Phillip.

The Saint Lucia native got behind Pitt’s back line on a long ball over the top from a free kick taken from NC State’s defensive third. Donovan then beat Pitt GK Jack Moxom to the ball, putting a subtle touch past the keeper and into goal for the lead. 

Pitt responded by playing to its strengths, getting on the ball and methodically building up play into the final third, eventually leading to a pair of corner kicks.

The second opportunity, in the 12th minute, featured a precise ball in from Jacob Rendenfors, which connected with Vilamitjana, who put his chance into the back of the net.

It was Vilamitjana’s team-leading fifth goal of the season.

While Pitt typically has dominated in possession against most opponents, NC State was up to the task in keeping it themselves while looking for quick-strike opportunities, staying on the front foot for much of the first half.

The Wolfpack were the more dangerous side through the first half, forcing Jack Moxom to make three saves.

The first two came in the same sequence that started on a long NC State throw, then Donovan headed a ball it slightly over to middle of box for wide open Taig Healy who forced a quick reaction save by Moxom. NC State’s Justin Mclean followed up the rebound with a one-time shot right to Moxom.

In the 28th minute, Moxom dove to his right to stop Phillip’s hard-driven, low shot to the near post.

The second half played out with both side exchanging control and getting on the front foot.  NC State had most of the clear-cut chances, but Pitt started to grow into the match by dominating possession in the later stages.

Phillip nearly had the breakthrough for NC State in the 72nd minute, but an apparent goal was waved off due to a push off in the box.

Pitt didn’t force NC State’s keeper, Logan Erb into a save until the 83rd minute, when at the end of a solid build-up, Lasse Dahl cut in behind the last defender and unleashed a dangerous chance on goal forcing the first save of the match for the Wolfpack.

Look for more detailed recap and reaction to come from Ambrose Urbanic Field.

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MATCH LOG

FINAL: PITT 1, No. 1 NC STATE 1

2nd Half 

86′ — this time it’s NC State with decent build up on left side, ends with Taig Healy chip that’s easily handled by Moxom.

84′ — Terrific build up for Pitt — and Lasse Dahl takes a run cutting in behind last defender and unleashes a dangerous chance on goal forcing the first save of the match from NC State’s Logan Erb.

72′ — NC State goal is waved off!   Official calls a push off on Donovan who headed in his chance.

51′ — Great chance for NC State — counter down right side — cross from Tommy Calem connects with DeFrancesco but header goes over bar.

49′ — Free kick chance for NC State — ball played to back post and they nearly connect but it sails through.

47′ — SAVE!  Pack are on the hunt early in the second half — generating a shot chance on counter down right side.  It’s Frankie DeFrancesco with shot and again, Moxom is there with save.

HALF– PITT 1, No. 1 NC STATE 1

Panthers respond to early deficit with set piece goal but can see why NC State has been successful early this season as they’ve been on the front foot & more dangerous, forcing Pitt keeper Jack Moxom to make 3 saves.

NC State with shots edge (9-3, 3-1 on target).

1st Half

39′ — The rhythm of match has slowed down quite a bit and getting more physical.

35′ — Yellow Card — Pitt’s Jacob Rendenfors for unsporting.  Looked like NC St’s Aiden Payne may have slipped but official thought it was a little too physical.

31′ — Couple hard collisions and play is held up as two NC St players are down.  Players on both sides doing a little chirping but that’s about it.

28′ — My goodness what a hard, low-lining shot unleashed from Donovan Phillip breaking down the left side — but GK Jack Moxom makes an incredible quick reaction stop to get down at near post side.

19′ — Double saves! NC State goes with the long throw in attempt — Donovan heads it slightly over to middle of box for wide open Taig Healy who forces a quick reaction save.  Ball comes out to Justin Mclean who puts a one-time shot on that’s right to Moxom.

16′ — Yellow Card.  NC State’s Justin McLean for unsporting.

12′ — GOAL! PITT LEVELS IT UP

Arnau Vilamitjana with the header in the center of the box — on the end of a perfectly placed corner from Jacob Redenfors

8′ — Since the goal, Pitt completely dominating time on the ball (no surprise).

2′ — GOAL! NC State wastes no time.

Donovan Phillip breaks behind Pitt’s back line on a long ball over the top — then beats Pitt GK Jack Moxom to the ball and flicks it behind the keeper and into goal. 

Starting Lineups

PITT MSOC MATCH NOTES

Seeking its first win over a No. 1 team since the 2022 campaign, the Pitt men’s soccer program returns to Ambrose Urbanic Field Friday night to host top-ranked NC State.

Nate Gatter (play-by-play) and Michael Lahoud (analyst) on the call

Need to Know – Match 10
Pitt (4-4-1, 0-2-0 ACC) vs. No. 1 NC State (7-0-1, 1-0-1 ACC)
Friday, Sept. 26, 2025 – 7:30 p.m. – ACC Network
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Ambrose Urbanic Field

The Opening Kick

• Pitt is seeking its first ACC win of the season while looking to become the first team to knock off the unbeaten Wolfpack.
• The Panthers’ attack is led by graduate midfielder Arnau Vilamitjana, who netted the game-winner against Mercyhurst to raise his team-best points total to 11. His total currently ranks 36th nationally.
• Pitt found success on the attacking end in the second half against Mercyhurst as Jakob Lopping, Joshua Veychek and Loke Mattsson each played a career-high 61 minutes.
• The Panthers have been without several starters due to injury, including Casper Svendby, Lasse Dahl, Niklas Soerensen and Tomas Bedouret. Svendby was a First Team All-American last season, while Dahl and Soerensen earned ACC All-Freshman honors.

The Series

• Friday will mark the 10th all-time meeting between Pitt and NC State, with the Panthers owning a 5-3-1 record.
• Head coach Jay Vidovich has enjoyed success against the Wolfpack, boasting a 24-3-2 ledger throughout his historic career.
• The last meeting between the two sides took place during the 2022 season.

Scouting the Wolfpack

• Top-ranked NC State enters Friday undefeated at 7-0-1.
• The Wolfpack has not allowed a goal this season and owns the nation’s best +25 goal differential.
• NC State is paced by the country’s leading goal scorer, Donavan Phillip, who has tallied 12 goals in eight matches.

Last Time Out (vs. Mercyhurst)
Vilamitjana scored the game-winner early in the second half as Pitt rallied for a 2-1 victory over Mercyhurst on Monday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

Mercyhurst struck first in the seventh minute when Alvar Silva buried a finish off a setup from Jalen Jackson-Tyus. The Lakers managed only two total shots on the night, both in the opening half, as Pitt controlled 69 percent of possession.

The Panthers pulled even just before halftime. In the 43rd minute, junior forward Albert Thorsen netted his first goal of the season, finishing a cross from redshirt junior forward Marco Silva with an extra touch from freshman midfielder Jakob Lopping.

Pitt carried that momentum into the second half. In the 55th minute, Vilamitjana delivered his team-leading fourth goal of the year, slotting home a pass from senior defender Jackson Gilman, with sophomore midfielder Joshua Veychek also credited with an assist.

The Panthers outshot the Lakers 15-2, including 8-0 after halftime, and earned nine corner kicks to Mercyhurst’s none. Pitt goalkeeper junior Jack Moxom went untested, while Mercyhurst keeper Gonzalo Onrubia finished with two saves.

Thorsen and Vilamitjana accounted for the Panthers’ goals, while freshman midfielder Grayson Carter paced the attack with four shots. Lopping added three attempts and an assist off the bench.