University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Petkovic, Jacquesson Lead Top Drawer Soccer Postseason Awards
5/25/2021 2:15:00 PM | Men's Soccer
PITTSBURGH – Sophomore midfielder Veljko Petkovic was named Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Year, while freshman Bertin Jacquesson was named Freshman of the Year today as announced by topdrawersoccer.com.
In addition to the two player of the year awards, five Panthers were named to the Best XI Teams, with sophomore Valentin Noel, graduate student Jasper Löeffelsend and Petkovic named to the First Team, while Jacquesson and freshman Filip Mirkovic received Best XI Freshman Team accolades.
Petkovic was a leader on the offensive end for the Panthers, totaling 30 points with nine goals and eight assists. His goal and assist count ranked eighth and seventh in the nation, respectively, while his point total finished fifth in the country.
The Nîs, Serbia, native tallied five goals and three assists during the fall season and four goals and five assists in the spring. He registered three multi-goal games and three multi-assist games on the year and scored three goals and recorded two assists in Pitt's historic NCAA Tournament run. Petkovic capped off Pitt's 3-0 victory over Washington the quarterfinal round with a goal of the year score, connecting a 64-yard strike over the Huskie keeper for the third goal of the match. He adds to his accolade total, as he was named United Soccer Coaches South All-Region Second Team and All-ACC Second Team earlier this year.
Jacquesson immediately made an impact for a Panther squad that finished fifth in the nation in scoring offense (2.55 goals per game). The Lorrez-Le-Bocage, France, product finished the season with four goals and seven assists, while also totaling 35 shots and 20 shots on goal. His seven assists finished ninth in the country and third in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Jaquesson recorded two goals and five assists in his first three collegiate games, including three assists at home against Virginia Tech Oct. 10. The three assists in one match tied for second for a single-game at Pitt. The Freshman of the Year title is his second of the year, as he was named ACC Freshman of the Year as well as All-ACC Second Team and All-ACC Freshman Team.
Noel finished as one of the nation's best offensive players, finishing in the top-25 in multiple categories. He recorded 14 goals (2nd in nation), 30 points (3rd in nation), .74 goals per game (13th in nation) and 1.58 points per game (23rd in nation). The Frenchman from Niort, France, was named a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, along with United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team, United Soccer Coaches South All-Region First Team, ACC Player of the Year and All-ACC First Team. He became the first Panther in program history to earn First Team All-America and a finalist for the prestigious Mac Hermann Trophy.
Löeffelsend joined Jacquesson and Petkovic as a trio of dynamic passers, as the Cologne, Germany, native finished fourth in the country in total assists with nine and second in the ACC in assists per game (.47). Löeffelsend also tallied three assists against Virginia Tech at home Oct. 10, joining Jacquesson in the single-game record books.
Löeffelsend registered two assists in the NCAA Tournament, including a crucial cross to Noel for the eventual game-winner against Washington. His efforts in the College Cup match against Indiana earned him a spot on the NCAA College Cup Team. He was named United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team, United Soccer Coaches South All-Region First Team, ACC Defensive Player of the Year and All-ACC First Team.
Mirkovic joined Petkovic in the midfield and formed a Serbian duo that helped lead the Panthers to 2.20 assists per game, first in the ACC and 13th nationally. From Belgrade, Serbia, Mirkovic tallied three goals and two assists with 18 shots and seven shots on goal. He recorded four shots in the NCAA Tournament, including a strike that nearly went after hitting the cross bar and left post in the College Cup.
His College Cup efforts earned him a spot on the NCAA College Cup Team, and Mirkovic was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team earlier this year.
Pitt finished the season 16-4 overall and 9-1 in conference play. The Panthers recently finished with a postseason ranking of three in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, the highest finish to a season in program history.
In addition to the two player of the year awards, five Panthers were named to the Best XI Teams, with sophomore Valentin Noel, graduate student Jasper Löeffelsend and Petkovic named to the First Team, while Jacquesson and freshman Filip Mirkovic received Best XI Freshman Team accolades.
Petkovic was a leader on the offensive end for the Panthers, totaling 30 points with nine goals and eight assists. His goal and assist count ranked eighth and seventh in the nation, respectively, while his point total finished fifth in the country.
The Nîs, Serbia, native tallied five goals and three assists during the fall season and four goals and five assists in the spring. He registered three multi-goal games and three multi-assist games on the year and scored three goals and recorded two assists in Pitt's historic NCAA Tournament run. Petkovic capped off Pitt's 3-0 victory over Washington the quarterfinal round with a goal of the year score, connecting a 64-yard strike over the Huskie keeper for the third goal of the match. He adds to his accolade total, as he was named United Soccer Coaches South All-Region Second Team and All-ACC Second Team earlier this year.
Jacquesson immediately made an impact for a Panther squad that finished fifth in the nation in scoring offense (2.55 goals per game). The Lorrez-Le-Bocage, France, product finished the season with four goals and seven assists, while also totaling 35 shots and 20 shots on goal. His seven assists finished ninth in the country and third in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Jaquesson recorded two goals and five assists in his first three collegiate games, including three assists at home against Virginia Tech Oct. 10. The three assists in one match tied for second for a single-game at Pitt. The Freshman of the Year title is his second of the year, as he was named ACC Freshman of the Year as well as All-ACC Second Team and All-ACC Freshman Team.
Noel finished as one of the nation's best offensive players, finishing in the top-25 in multiple categories. He recorded 14 goals (2nd in nation), 30 points (3rd in nation), .74 goals per game (13th in nation) and 1.58 points per game (23rd in nation). The Frenchman from Niort, France, was named a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, along with United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team, United Soccer Coaches South All-Region First Team, ACC Player of the Year and All-ACC First Team. He became the first Panther in program history to earn First Team All-America and a finalist for the prestigious Mac Hermann Trophy.
Löeffelsend joined Jacquesson and Petkovic as a trio of dynamic passers, as the Cologne, Germany, native finished fourth in the country in total assists with nine and second in the ACC in assists per game (.47). Löeffelsend also tallied three assists against Virginia Tech at home Oct. 10, joining Jacquesson in the single-game record books.
Löeffelsend registered two assists in the NCAA Tournament, including a crucial cross to Noel for the eventual game-winner against Washington. His efforts in the College Cup match against Indiana earned him a spot on the NCAA College Cup Team. He was named United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team, United Soccer Coaches South All-Region First Team, ACC Defensive Player of the Year and All-ACC First Team.
Mirkovic joined Petkovic in the midfield and formed a Serbian duo that helped lead the Panthers to 2.20 assists per game, first in the ACC and 13th nationally. From Belgrade, Serbia, Mirkovic tallied three goals and two assists with 18 shots and seven shots on goal. He recorded four shots in the NCAA Tournament, including a strike that nearly went after hitting the cross bar and left post in the College Cup.
His College Cup efforts earned him a spot on the NCAA College Cup Team, and Mirkovic was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team earlier this year.
Pitt finished the season 16-4 overall and 9-1 in conference play. The Panthers recently finished with a postseason ranking of three in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, the highest finish to a season in program history.
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