Wednesday, November 18
Raleigh, N.C.
Pitt
7-0-0, 4-0-0
3
vs
1
Notre Dame
5-4-0, 3-2-0
1
2
F
Notre Dame
0
1
1
Pittsburgh
3
0
3
Photo by: Nat LeDonne
No. 1 Pitt Advances to ACC Championship Final
11/19/2020 1:37:00 AM | Men's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. – For the first time in program history, the University of Pittsburgh men's soccer team will play in the ACC Championship Final after a 3-1 victory Wednesday evening over Notre Dame in the semifinal round at Dail Soccer Field/Track Complex.
News & Notes
Sophomore Veljko Petkovic got Pitt on the board first with a goal in the 21st minute, taking a free-kick into the upper right 90 from 23 yards out. Pitt has scored the first goal in every contest in 2020. Notre Dame (5-4) had a chance to tie it shortly after the goal, heading a ball directly on goal off a free-kick. Campuzano made a diving save and deflected the ball over the cross bar, forcing a corner kick.
Noel added to Pitt's lead in the 34th minute, taking a pass from sophomore Raphaël Crivello and using his left foot inside the six-yard box for the score. Noel, who recently set a record for consecutive games played with at least one goal at four against Duke, is now tied for first in the country in total goals with seven.
Ten minutes later, Petkovic netted his second goal of the game – his second multi-goal game of his career – and gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead late in the first half. Graduate student Jasper Löeffelsend tallied his sixth assist of the season on Petkovic's second goal and is now in sole possession of first-place in total assists in the country.
Notre Dame had another opportunity to put a goal on the board, as the ball trickled into the box off a shot deflection. The Irish had an open net, but senior Jackson Walti used his body to stop the shot and keep the shutout intact.
Pitt outshot Notre Dame 8-6 in the first half and registered four saves to the Irish's one.
Notre Dame put pressure on Pitt's back line early in the second half, totaling five shots in the first six minutes of play. The Irish got on the board late, as Jack Lynn converted a penalty kick in the 87th minute to cut the lead 3-1. Pitt kept Notre Dame at bay the rest of the way, securing the victory and clinching a spot in the ACC Championship Final for the first time in program history.
The Irish finished the contest with 18 shots compared to Pitt's 13. Notre Dame tallied 10 corner kicks, while the Panthers had zero for the night.
The No. 1 Panthers face Clemson in the ACC Final Sunday, Nov. 22 at 12 PM at WakeMed Park in Cary, N.C. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
News & Notes
- With the win, No. 1 Pitt keeps its undefeated season alive and is now 7-0 overall on the year. The 7-0 start is the best start to a season in school history.
- The Panthers are now 4-1-1 in the past three seasons in ACC Tournament play. Head Coach Jay Vidovich improved his Pitt ACC postseason record to 4-3-1.
- Sophomore Valentin Noel continued his scoring streak, netting his seventh goal of the season in the 34th minute. Noel has now scored in each of his past five games.
- Graduate student goalkeeper Nico Campuzano totaled six saves on the evening, three in each half. Campuzano now has 24 saves on the year.
Fantastic ??
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) November 19, 2020
Petkovic's fourth goal of the season.
?? (ACC Network) - https://t.co/W6XdLZ2ARR#H2P | @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/yfoZr6R2vI
Sophomore Veljko Petkovic got Pitt on the board first with a goal in the 21st minute, taking a free-kick into the upper right 90 from 23 yards out. Pitt has scored the first goal in every contest in 2020. Notre Dame (5-4) had a chance to tie it shortly after the goal, heading a ball directly on goal off a free-kick. Campuzano made a diving save and deflected the ball over the cross bar, forcing a corner kick.
Nico said not today ?
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) November 19, 2020
Campuzano with an incredible save to keep up 1-0.
?? (ACC Network) - https://t.co/W6XdLZ2ARR#H2P pic.twitter.com/2njmNtTo2z
Noel added to Pitt's lead in the 34th minute, taking a pass from sophomore Raphaël Crivello and using his left foot inside the six-yard box for the score. Noel, who recently set a record for consecutive games played with at least one goal at four against Duke, is now tied for first in the country in total goals with seven.
Ten minutes later, Petkovic netted his second goal of the game – his second multi-goal game of his career – and gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead late in the first half. Graduate student Jasper Löeffelsend tallied his sixth assist of the season on Petkovic's second goal and is now in sole possession of first-place in total assists in the country.
Notre Dame had another opportunity to put a goal on the board, as the ball trickled into the box off a shot deflection. The Irish had an open net, but senior Jackson Walti used his body to stop the shot and keep the shutout intact.
Pitt outshot Notre Dame 8-6 in the first half and registered four saves to the Irish's one.
Notre Dame put pressure on Pitt's back line early in the second half, totaling five shots in the first six minutes of play. The Irish got on the board late, as Jack Lynn converted a penalty kick in the 87th minute to cut the lead 3-1. Pitt kept Notre Dame at bay the rest of the way, securing the victory and clinching a spot in the ACC Championship Final for the first time in program history.
The Irish finished the contest with 18 shots compared to Pitt's 13. Notre Dame tallied 10 corner kicks, while the Panthers had zero for the night.
The No. 1 Panthers face Clemson in the ACC Final Sunday, Nov. 22 at 12 PM at WakeMed Park in Cary, N.C. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Team Stats
ND
PITT
Goals
1
3
Shots
18
13
Shots on Goal
8
4
Saves
1
6
Corners
10
0
Fouls
12
19
Scoring Plays
Veljko Petkovic (5)
GOAL by PITT Petkovic, Veljko.
20:49
Valentin Noel (6)
Assisted By: Raphael Crivello
GOAL by PITT Noel, Valentin Assist by Crivello, Raphael.
33:25
Veljko Petkovic (5)
Assisted By: Jasper Loeffelsend
GOAL by PITT Petkovic, Veljko Assist by Loeffelsend, Jasper.
43:14
Jack Lynn (6)
ND Jack Lynn PENALTY KICK GOAL.
86:46
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's SoccerD
/ Men's SoccerM
/ Men's SoccerM
/ 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