No. 4 Pitt Travels to North Carolina Friday

PITTSBURGH – The No. 4 University of Pittsburgh men's soccer team travels to the University of North Carolina Friday for its first ACC match of the spring. Kick-off is set for 7 PM on ACCNX.

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SHUTOUT TO START THE SPRING

The Panthers opened up spring play with a 1-0 shutout of Duquesne Saturday, Feb. 27 at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Senior defender Bryce Washington scored the lone goal via penalty kick in the 36th minute, his second goal of the season and fourth of his career. Washington's performance (three shots, two shots on goal) earned him TopDrawerSoccer and College Soccer News Team of the Week accolades.
The shutout was the first of the season for Pitt, while the one goal scored offensively matched a season low (Clemson - Nov. 22).

SHUTOUT TO START THE SPRING

The Panthers and Tar Heels meet for the eighth time in program history Friday.
The Tar Heels have won the previous seven meetings dating back to the first match played in 2013.
North Carolina and Wake Forest are the only conference teams Pitt has yet to defeat since joining the ACC in 2013.

SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS

North Carolina enters the contest 3-3-2 overall and 3-1-2 in conference play. The Tar Heels most recently fell to Liberty, 1-0, at home Feb. 25.
The Tar Heels faced Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Quarterfinal, falling 1-0 in overtime Pitt eventually defeated Notre Dame in the semifinal round to advance to the ACC Championship Final.
North Carolina enters the contest as one of the best defensive teams in the ACC. The Tar Heels rank second in the league in goals against average (.696), third in save percentage (.778) and tied for first in shutout percentage (.500).
The Tar Heels have allowed only six goals in eight contests all year, three of which came Oct. 27 at Clemson.
Junior goalkeeper Alec Smir currently ranks tied for first in the ACC in shutouts with four and is first with a .696 goals against average. He has played every minute inside the pipes for the Tar Heels.
Senior Santiago Herrera leads the team in goals with two off of six shots and four shots on goal. Senior Lucas del Rosario has one goal and one assist on the season with five shots to his credit.

THE FIRST NOEL

Sophomore Valentin Noel finished the fall as one of the best goal scorers in the country, leading the Panther offense in goals, points, shots and shots on goal.
The Niort, France, native is one of the top offensive performers in the ACC currently, sitting first in goals per game (1.00), first in points per game (2.25), first in shot accuracy (.536), second in shots on goal per game (1.75), first in total goals (8) and second in total points (18).
On Nov. 15 vs. Duke, Noel set a school record for consecutive games played with a goal at four. The streak finished at six games, as he scored in the Panthers' lone goal in the ACC Championship Final against Clemson Nov. 22.

ACC'S NO. 1 SCORING OFFENSE

Pitt enters the North Carolina match with the number one scoring offense in the conference, averaging 2.67 goals per game.
The Panthers have totaled 24 goals this season, which is tied for first in the nation (Georgia State). Pitt also leads the country in total points (74) and total assists (26).
Pitt has scored 12 more goals than its opposition, a mark that is first in the ACC and third in the country. Pitt also leads the conference shot accuracy (.545).

TOPDRAWERSOCCER HONORS WASHINGTON

Senior Bryce Washington was recognized by TopDrawerSoccer.com for his performance against Duquesne Saturday, Feb. 27.
Washington totaled three shots, two shots on goal and scored via penalty kick while aiding a back line that shutout the Dukes, 1-0.
The Team of the Week nod is the second of the season for the Atlanta, Ga., native.

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