Ordoñez’s Header Lifts No. 7 Pitt Over Duke in Double Overtime

Friday, March 19

Durham, NC

7 PM

Pitt

10-2-0, 6-1-0

Duke

3-9-2, 3-6-0

Pittsburgh

Duke

Ordoñez’s Header Lifts No. 7 Pitt Over Duke in Double Overtime

3/19/2021 10:33:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore Arturo Ordoñez gathered a rebound off a deflected shot and headed it into the back of the net in double overtime, lifting No. 7 Pitt over Duke 4-3.

NEWS & NOTES

Ordoñez's goal was his second of the season and second game-winner. The Salou, Spain, native registered a game-winning header at Virginia Oct. 18, 2020 in the 93^rd minute to lift Pitt over the Cavaliers in overtime.
Sophomore Valentin Noel scored two goals against the Blue Devils, increasing his season total to 10 goals. Noel entered the contest tied first in the ACC and second in the nation in total goals.
The Panthers improve to 10-2 overall and 6-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. The 10 wins ties the 2019's season total for most under head coach Jay Vidovich while at Pitt. The school record for wins in a season is 14 set in 1995.
Pitt tallied 19 shots and 11 shots on goal, both season highs. The four goals scored tied a season-best (vs. Virginia Tech, at Louisville).

"I am very proud of the effort tonight," said Vidovich. "Our preparation for the match this week was fantastic and our mental toughness is coming through again. It's a great team win, our bench was used tonight and our leading scorer Val [Noel] moved to left back to help us secure the win. Everybody did their part and stayed true to themselves, believed and took it to the end.

Duke (3-9-2, 1-2 ACC) started the scoring early in the first half as senior Daniel Wright converted a penalty kick in the third minute. The Panthers went on the attack after the goal, totaling four corner kicks in the next 22 minutes. Noel earned his first goal of the game in the 28^th minute, as Noel received a pass from freshman Bertin Jacquesson at the top of the 18 and struck a right foot to the upper right of the net, tying the match at 1-1.

The score remained, 1-1, at the half. As the half ended, sophomore Veljko Petkovic was given a red card and the Panthers were down a man for the remainder of the contest. Pitt outshot the Blue Devils, 10-3, and recorded seven corner kicks to Duke's two in the first 45 minutes of play.

Pitt came out aggressive in the second half, and Noel tallied his second goal of the evening in the 54^th minute. Noel snuck a ball just inside the left post from 28 yards out, striking it low on the ground for his 10^th goal of the season. Four minutes later, freshman Filip Mirkovic put the Panthers up 3-1 with his second goal of the season. Freshman Luke Mort gathered a volley and attempted a shot on net, but the ball was deflected to the right off Duke junior goalkeeper Eliot Hamill's gloves. Mirkovic rebounded the loose ball and used his left foot to drive a low liner to the far right post for the score.

Duke answered with its second goal of the game in the 67^th minute, cutting the Pitt lead to 3-2. Four minutes later, the Blue Devils tied the game at three all as freshman Thorleifur Ulfarsson scored the equalizer. The score remained, 3-3, after 90 minutes of action.

Pitt registered 16 shots, eight corners and three saves after two halves of play. Duke had 11 shots, five corners and five saves after 90.

The two teams held each other scoreless through the first overtime, with Duke tallying one shot.

Four minutes into the second overtime, Mort drove a shot to the bottom left of the net. Hamill saved it and pushed it out for a corner kick, Pitt's ninth of the game. From the corner cross, Ordoñez's shot on goal was saved by Hamill, but a big hop gave the 6-2 defender enough room to head the ball into the top right corner of the net for the game-winner.

"With the red card, we made some adjustments at halftime and the guys felt good about it" stated Vidovich. "We knew if we stayed high and pressed them and found our role we could play with a man down and they executed fantastically with two quick goals. Not only that, but after giving up two quick goals to Duke, our guys didn't give up. They showed their mental toughness and pushed through."

Ordoñez finished with five shots, three shots on goal and a goal. Petkovic registered four shots and one shot on goal, while Noel finished with two shots, two shots on goal and two goals. Graduate student goalkeeper Nico Campuzano had two saves on the evening and earned his 10^th win in between the pipes. Campuzano is now tied for fifth for wins in a single season, joining Mark Hendricks (1986) with 10 wins in a year.

The Panthers continue on the road and next play Virginia Tech Saturday, Mar. 27 at 1 p.m. Live coverage will be held on the ACCNX.