Three members of the Pitt men’s soccer program had their name called Wednesday during the 2023 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

Junior forward Bertin Jacquesson, senior midfielder Valentin Noel and fifth-year midfielder Jackson Walti were selected.

Jacquesson, Pitt’s highest draft pick in program history, was taken 16th overall by Real Salt Lake. Noel was picked 20th overall by Austin FC. And Walti was a second-round pick, at 56th overall, by Austin FC.

Jacquesson, a native of Lorrez-Le-Bocage, France, finished his Pitt career with 19 goals, 23 assists and 61 points in 57 matches. He was a second-team All-ACC selection this fall after scoring eight goals and adding five assists.

Noel, from Niort, France, led the Panthers and was second in the ACC in goals (12), earning third-team All-American honors. he also was a first-team All-South Region selection for the third straight season. In the postseason, he had four goals and eight points in five matches. He finished his Pitt career ranked second in program history in goals (35) and third in points (83).

Walti, a four-year captain, played all but 14 minutes this season. The midfielder earned second-team All-ACC recognition for the third time after scoring two goals on 15 shots. He helped Pitt post eight shutouts and the Panthers’ lowest goals-against average in a season (1.02).

Eight members of the Pitt men’s soccer program have been drafted during coach Jay Vidovich’s seven-year tenure. Vidovich has led Pitt to the College Cup in two of the past three seasons (2020, ‘22). The Panthers lost to Indiana, 2-0, in the College Cup on Dec. 9, in Cary, N.C.

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