No. 15 Pitt Defeats No. 2 Clemson on the Road, 2-0

Saturday, September 25

Clemson, SC

7 PM

Pitt

5-3-0, 2-1-0

Clemson

7-2-0, 2-1-0

Pittsburgh

Clemson

No. 15 Pitt Defeats No. 2 Clemson on the Road, 2-0

9/25/2021 9:34:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

CLEMSON, S.C. – The No. 15 Pitt men's soccer team earned a critical bounce-back victory over No. 2 Clemson, winning 2-0 at Historic Riggs Field Saturday night.

NEWS & NOTES

Pitt improved to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in ACC play. The victory over No. 2 Clemson is the second victory over a top-five opponent this season (No. 4 North Carolina).
Graduate student Matt Bailey scored his first career goal as a Panther in the 58^th minute. Junior Veljko Petkovic earned the assist, the 18^th of his career to move into third-place for career assists at Pitt.
Sophomore Bertin Jacquesson scored his second goal of the season in the 68^th minute, receiving the assist from junior Frenchman teammate Valentin Noel.
Dating back to 2019, the Panthers improved to 12-0 in games immediately following a loss. The last time Pitt fell in back-to-back games was Aug. 30 and Sept. 1, 2019.

The Panthers had an early chance at goal in the fourth minute as freshman Guilherme Feitosa took an errant pass from the Clemson defense and attempted a chip shot toward the left post, however the ball landed on top of the net just above the cross bar.

Clemson (7-2, 2-1 ACC) handled most of the possession after the Feitosa attempt, tallying nine shots toward goal. Graduate student goalkeeper Nico Campuzano stopped one shot and the Panther back line held the Tigers in check for the first 45 minutes as the half ended 0-0.

The Tigers led 2-1 in corners while both teams had six fouls in the first half.

Pitt again nearly had a chance at a goal in the 56^th minute as Petkovic chipped a shot over the goalie on net, but a Clemson defender kicked it out of play. Two minutes later, Petkovic found Bailey in stride down the left side of the field, who shot a low line-drive ball with his right foot to the far post. The ball went past the outstretched gloves of the Clemson goalkeeper and went into the back of the net for the goal.

First career goal ? for Bailey, 18th career assist for Petkovic (that's 3rd all-time at Pitt!)

?? - https://t.co/ekdFVIpVTK (ACCNX)#H2P pic.twitter.com/bRQffOiGvv
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) September 26, 2021

Ten minutes later ('68), Noel mirrored what Petkovic did to Bailey to Jacquesson as he found the forward down the left side of the field. Jacquesson struck a strong right foot toward the right post and connected for the second goal of the game.

The French Connection ????@Vlnt_Noel finds Jacquesson for the second goal of the match.

?? - https://t.co/ekdFVIpVTK (ACCNX)#H2P pic.twitter.com/OqFWWtu9s3
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) September 26, 2021

Clemson attempted three shots in the remaining 22 minutes, but the Panther defense held the Tigers at bay, limiting them to four shots in total in the second half after nine taken in the first half.
Campuzano finished with one save and his 21^st career win. He ranks fourth at Pitt in career wins in goal.

After playing three-straight on the road, the Panthers are home for three-straight beginning Friday, Oct. 1 against Syracuse. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. on ACCNX.