Pitt soccer prepares for Syracuse match after 0-0 tie with Virginia
The Panthers finish the regular season 9-4-3 and rank 18th nationally, facing a tough ACC tournament opening round on November 4.
By Priya Marino ·
Pitt men's soccer will face the Syracuse Orange at 7 p.m. on November 4 in the first round of the ACC tournament at Ambrose Urbanic Field. The Panthers enter the postseason with a 9-4-3 record and a 18th place ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. They also hold the fifth spot in the Rating Percentage Index due to the strength of their schedule.
The team has played six matches against opponents ranked in the top 25, meaning they faced an elite adversary in 40% of their contests. In ACC play, seven of the eight games were decided by two goals or fewer. Head coach Jay Vidovich stated that the difficulty of this schedule should pay off during tournament play.
Vidovich noted the physical and academic demands of the college season after the October 13 match against Duquesne. He described the workload as tremendously difficult and almost impossible because players must balance student and athlete roles while recovering from game to game.
The Panthers often find themselves trailing early in matches. Against Duquesne, Pitt did not score until the 56th minute when senior midfielder Anders Bordoy equalized. Senior forward Albert Thorsen then provided the winning goal in the 61st minute. A similar pattern emerged on October 23 against Boston College, where the team failed to score until late in the second half.
Coaching staff aims for the team to score first and earlier to establish control. The current style relies on possession and patience, but this approach risks allowing opponents to stay in the game if chances are not converted. To succeed in the NCAA Tournament, Pitt must find additional ways to score using its depth.
Midfielder Kareem Ahmed, in his first year, has received more playing time and offers quickness and creativity. Defensive midfielder Pablo Portero has demonstrated strong distribution skills to create chances for teammates. Senior Caden Grabfelder has two goals this season, while junior Miguel Bertran has three. These contributions help the team become a more challenging opponent when players connect effectively.
Pitt concluded its regular season on October 30 with a 0-0 draw against the Virginia Cavaliers. The squad now turns its attention to the upcoming match against Syracuse.
