University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Saturday, September 9
Pittsburgh, Pa.
7:00 PM
Pitt
vs
North Carolina
Pitt Hosts No. 10 North Carolina in ACC Opener
9/8/2017 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Panthers Take on First Conference Foe of 2017 Saturday Night
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh men's soccer team is set to face its first Atlantic Coast Conference opponent of 2017 when the Panthers host No. 10 North Carolina Saturday, Sept. 9. Conference action will get underway at 7 p.m. at Ambrose Urbanic Field in the Petersen Sports Complex.
Pitt enters Saturday's match 2-2-0 overall while the 10th-ranked Tar Heels boast a 3-1-0 overall record. The match-up will be the first conference game of the season for the two opponents.
HOW TO FOLLOW
- Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra and may be viewed on WatchESPN/WatchESPN app by clicking here.
- Live stats will be provided through PittsburghPanthers.com.
- Fans can also follow along with live updates by following Pitt's men's soccer on Twitter.
THE SERIES
- North Carolina leads all meetings 4-0, claiming the last meeting 1-0 in 2016 in Chapel Hill.
- Second year head coach Jay Vidovich is 9-11-6 all-time versus the Tar Heels.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Panthers captured their second win of the season Monday, Sept. 4 against Loyola in Baltimore, Md.
- Freshman Alexander Dexter netted the game-winner coming in the 31st minute. Dexter's goal was the first of his college career.
- In goal, redshirt sophomore Mikal Outcalt earned his second shutout of the season having to make just two saves against Loyola.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
- North Carolina comes to Pittsburgh with just one loss on their record coming against UNC-Wilmington Sept. 1.
- The Tar Heels rank fourth in the Coastal Division, while Pitt ranks fifth.
- North Carolina was the preseason favorite, selected to win the regular season as voted on by the ACC coaches.
- The Tar Heels are one of eight NCAA Tournament teams on Pitt's 2017 schedule as they reached the semifinals of the 2016 College Cup, falling to eventual champion Stanford.
- North Carolina finished the year 14-3-4 overall and stood at the top of the ACC Coastal Division with a 5-1-2 conference record.
- The Tar Heels advanced to the quarterfinals of the ACC Championships, but were stopped by Boston College, 1-0.
- North Carolina finished the year ranked No. 4 in the NSCAA Coaches Poll and was fifth in the RPI.
- The Tar Heels will be without two of their top defenders in Colton Storm and Walker Hume as both were taken in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, however UNC returns reigning ACC Freshman of the Year in midfielder Cam Lindley.
VIDOVICH ENTERS SECOND SEASON
- Head coach Jay Vidovich enters his second year at the helm of the Pitt soccer program and his 23rd season overall on the sidelines.
- The two-time NSCAA Coach of the Year has produced over 35 professional players, 21 All-Americans and five ACC Player of the Year honorees.
- Prior to Pitt, Vidovich spent 21 seasons at Wake Forest where the team captured the 2007 National Championship, made four College Cup appearances and claimed five ACC regular season titles.
CREGAN, PEREZ NAMED CAPTAINS
- Senior Bryce Cregan will captain the team again in 2017, this year with the help of junior Javi Perez.
- Cregan, a strong defender, started and played in 16 total games for Pitt last season, registering three shots on goal.
- Perez, a native of Valencia, Spain, brings years of invaluable experience to Pittsburgh after training with Valencia CF, one of the top youth academies in Spain's La Liga.
- Perez joined the Panthers in January of 2017.
A LOOK AT THE 2017 OPPONENTS
- Pitt plays eight teams ranked in the top-25 preseason United Soccer Coaches poll.
- Eight of those opponents were also NCAA tournament teams a year ago, with two reaching in the Final Four and four to the Elite Eight.
- The Panthers host nine opponents at Ambrose Urbanic Field, which will feature four ACC foes and long-time rivals West Virginia and Penn State.
LOOKING AHEAD
- Pitt continues conference play with a trip to Winston-Salem, N.C., to take on No. 2 Wake Forest.
- Action is set to get underway at 7:30 p.m. at Spry Stadium.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Pitt enters Saturday's match 2-2-0 overall while the 10th-ranked Tar Heels boast a 3-1-0 overall record. The match-up will be the first conference game of the season for the two opponents.
HOW TO FOLLOW
- Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra and may be viewed on WatchESPN/WatchESPN app by clicking here.
- Live stats will be provided through PittsburghPanthers.com.
- Fans can also follow along with live updates by following Pitt's men's soccer on Twitter.
THE SERIES
- North Carolina leads all meetings 4-0, claiming the last meeting 1-0 in 2016 in Chapel Hill.
- Second year head coach Jay Vidovich is 9-11-6 all-time versus the Tar Heels.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Panthers captured their second win of the season Monday, Sept. 4 against Loyola in Baltimore, Md.
- Freshman Alexander Dexter netted the game-winner coming in the 31st minute. Dexter's goal was the first of his college career.
- In goal, redshirt sophomore Mikal Outcalt earned his second shutout of the season having to make just two saves against Loyola.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
- North Carolina comes to Pittsburgh with just one loss on their record coming against UNC-Wilmington Sept. 1.
- The Tar Heels rank fourth in the Coastal Division, while Pitt ranks fifth.
- North Carolina was the preseason favorite, selected to win the regular season as voted on by the ACC coaches.
- The Tar Heels are one of eight NCAA Tournament teams on Pitt's 2017 schedule as they reached the semifinals of the 2016 College Cup, falling to eventual champion Stanford.
- North Carolina finished the year 14-3-4 overall and stood at the top of the ACC Coastal Division with a 5-1-2 conference record.
- The Tar Heels advanced to the quarterfinals of the ACC Championships, but were stopped by Boston College, 1-0.
- North Carolina finished the year ranked No. 4 in the NSCAA Coaches Poll and was fifth in the RPI.
- The Tar Heels will be without two of their top defenders in Colton Storm and Walker Hume as both were taken in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, however UNC returns reigning ACC Freshman of the Year in midfielder Cam Lindley.
VIDOVICH ENTERS SECOND SEASON
- Head coach Jay Vidovich enters his second year at the helm of the Pitt soccer program and his 23rd season overall on the sidelines.
- The two-time NSCAA Coach of the Year has produced over 35 professional players, 21 All-Americans and five ACC Player of the Year honorees.
- Prior to Pitt, Vidovich spent 21 seasons at Wake Forest where the team captured the 2007 National Championship, made four College Cup appearances and claimed five ACC regular season titles.
CREGAN, PEREZ NAMED CAPTAINS
- Senior Bryce Cregan will captain the team again in 2017, this year with the help of junior Javi Perez.
- Cregan, a strong defender, started and played in 16 total games for Pitt last season, registering three shots on goal.
- Perez, a native of Valencia, Spain, brings years of invaluable experience to Pittsburgh after training with Valencia CF, one of the top youth academies in Spain's La Liga.
- Perez joined the Panthers in January of 2017.
A LOOK AT THE 2017 OPPONENTS
- Pitt plays eight teams ranked in the top-25 preseason United Soccer Coaches poll.
- Eight of those opponents were also NCAA tournament teams a year ago, with two reaching in the Final Four and four to the Elite Eight.
- The Panthers host nine opponents at Ambrose Urbanic Field, which will feature four ACC foes and long-time rivals West Virginia and Penn State.
LOOKING AHEAD
- Pitt continues conference play with a trip to Winston-Salem, N.C., to take on No. 2 Wake Forest.
- Action is set to get underway at 7:30 p.m. at Spry Stadium.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
M
/ Men's SoccerPitt Men's Soccer | Vermont Postgame | Jay Vidovich
Thursday, December 12
Postgame vs. Vermont | Jay Vidovich
Saturday, December 07
Pitt Men's Soccer | Pitt 3, Kansas City 2 | Field Pass
Tuesday, December 03
Field Pass | Pitt 3, Kansas City 2 | NCAA Third Round
Tuesday, December 03