Pitt Men’s Soccer earns first win of 2026 over Bucknell

It took a little longer than they’d like, and it wasn’t always pretty, but Pitt Men’s soccer chalked up their first win of the season Monday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field, 3-1 over Bucknell.

The Panthers spent much of the first half trying to find the game and their rhythm. Tactically, Jay Vidovich’s vaunted 4-3-3 attack was dependent on long GK kicks from Jack Moxom and deep balls from fullbacks Anders Bordoy and Cannon Scretchen up to forwards Albert Thorsen and Mamadou Tall. But Bucknell stayed in the game due to some scrappy midfield play that forced timely turnovers and quick rushes forward for opportunities. 

In the 32nd minute, Pitt broke through with a goal on an odd broken play for Bucknell. A sloppy defensive recycle in the 18 yard box was pounced on by Mamadou Tall. Bucknell’s LB passed back to their keeper, but he missed the ball and it rolled slowly towards the goalmouth, where attacking mid Miguel Bertran bundled it over the line for a 1-0 lead. Bucknell put the pressure on for the rest of the half, though, pinning the Panthers in their own end till the whistle blew at 45’. Overall, despite the 1-0 lead, Pitt certainly were going to need adjustments for the final 45 minutes in order to get a result.

Miguel Beltran shoulder to shoulder against a Bucknell player, 8-24-26.

Although Pitt began the second half with a brisker step, Bucknell were still able to crash the box and find the equalizer. In the 58th minute, Bucknell’s Cade Whitmire found the back of twine on a bouncing pass from  Colin Findlay to put the pressure back on Pitt. 

The Panthers found their response only moments later.

In the 68th minute a rush from the left side by Pitt made it all the way to Bucknell’s box. Bucknell keeper Thomas Yerbury made a challenge on Pitt’s Left Winger and missed the ball, but upended the player, resulting in the referee pointing to the spot. After a brief video review, Pitt forward Anders Bordoy stepped up and tucked the PK into the left side of the goal, just past the outstretched arm of Yerbury, to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead.

Pitt scored again at 78’ on a dribble drive into the box down the left and a smoking left footed finish on an angle from LB Cannon Scratchen. Scratchen charged forward on an overlap and just kept going to push the score out to 3-1, making it clear that Pitt’s fitness and athleticism are too much for Bucknell. The two teams tangoed for the final 12 minutes to close things out.

The win was a nice rebound for Vidovich’s men, who fell last Thursday in their season opener in Pittsburgh against Maryland, 2-1. They are next in action against their mid-state rivals the Penn State Nittany Lions this Friday away at 7 pm.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Mark Asher Goodman

Mark Asher Goodman is a writer for Pittsburgh Soccer Now, covering the Riverhounds and Riveters, the Pitt Men's and Women's teams, and high school soccer. He also co-hosts a podcast on the Colorado Rapids called 'Holding the High Line with Rabbi and Red.' He has written in the past for the Washington Post, Denver Post, The Athletic, SBNation, and American Soccer Analysis. When he's not reading, writing, watching, or coaching soccer, he is an actual rabbi. No, really. You can find him on bluesky at @rabbimarkasherg.bsky.social