Pitt men's soccer prepares for 2nd consecutive trip to ACC semifinals

Jay Vidovich called Pitt’s 2-1 victory against Duke in the ACC Championship tournament “a big step for the program.”

The chance to make another even bigger step awaits as the Panthers, the nation’s top-ranked men’s soccer team, advances into the tournament semifinals Wednesday against Notre Dame in Raleigh, N.C. The game will be telecast on the ACC Network.

“It was a tremendous game for us considering the situation, coming back and pulling out a win in a big-time game,” said Vidovich, whose team was without two players held out Sunday night for covid-related protocols.

“I am proud of the effort our guys showed out there. We found goals when needed to, and it was overall a tremendous effort.”

It was Pitt’s first game since Oct. 23. The school had canceled the last two regular-season games and paused all activities Oct. 28 because of covid protocols.

Yet, Pitt (6-0 for the first time since 2000) was able to reach the ACC Championship semifinals for the second consecutive season.

Junior Jackson Walti’s goal gave Pitt a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute. Sophomore Valentin Noel broke a 1-1 tie in the 62nd minute only three minutes after Duke had tied the score.

Noel is the first Pitt player in program history to score a goal in four consecutive games.

Trailing 2-1 in the second half, Duke pressured Pitt’s back line, forcing three shots, including one that hit the cross bar in the final six minutes.

Duke had a 15-12 shot advantage over the Panthers, only the second time that has happened this season.

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