Program Record Three Panthers Selected In 2023 MLS SuperDraft
12/22/2022 7:30:00 AM | Men's Soccer
PITTSBURGH – For the first time in program history, the Pitt men's soccer program saw three student-athletes selected in the 2023 Major League Soccer SuperDraft Wednesday evening. Pitt saw a pair of players taken in the First Round as junior Bertin Jacquesson was taken 16th overall by Real Salt Lake and senior Valentin Noel was taken 20th overall by Austin FC. FIfth-year captain Jackson Walti was taken in the Second Round at 56th overall by Austin FC.
Jacquesson becomes the highest draft pick in Pitt program history. The duo of Jacquesson and Noel becomes the first duo at Pitt in any sport to go inside the top-20 since Bill Fralic and Chris Doleman were selected No. 2 and No. 4 overall in the 1985 NFL Draft.
Pitt has now seen multiple players selected in back-to-back drafts for the first time in program history. Since head coach Jay Vidovich took over the program seven years ago, the Panthers have seen a total of eight student-athletes drafted after not seeing any taken prior to Vidovich's hiring.
A native of Lorrez-Le-Bocage, France, Jacquesson concludes his prolific Pitt career with 19 goals, 23 assists and 61 points across 57 matches. His 23 career assists are second in program history while his 61 career points ranks seventh in program history. Known for his speed and agility, Jacquesson has helped Pitt become one of the best programs in the nation over his career as he has helped the Panthers earn their first two College Cup trips in program history (2020, 2022).
This past season, Jacquesson battled through some injuries to earn Second Team All-ACC honors as he ranked second on the squad with eight goals, five assists and 21 points on a team-high 61 shots. He netted three game-winning goals including the most memorable of his collegiate career as he ripped home a shot into the upper left corner down a man in the 78th minute of the NCAA Tournament match at #1 Kentucky.
As a sophomore, Jacquesson earned Second Team All-ACC honors after netting seven goals, a career-high 11 assists and 25 points for the Panthers. His 11 assists are the second most in a single season in program history. He helped guide Pitt to their first College Cup appearance in his freshman campaign as he netted four goals, seven assists and 15 points while being named ACC Freshman of the Year.
Jacquesson joins his former teammate and friend Jasper Löeffelsend in Real Salt Lake for the 2023 campaign.
Noel, a Niort, France native, was taken with the 20th pick of the first round by Austin FC. The dynamic playmaker led the Panthers and ranked second in the ACC in goals (12) while also leading the squad and ranking tied for third in the conference in points (25). Noel turned up his play in the postseason as he posted four goals and eight points in five matches as the Panthers knocked off Cleveland State, #16 Akron, #1 Kentucky and Portland before falling in the College Cup to #13 Indiana.
The Frenchman opened the season with goals in three straight games and a point in four straight games as Pitt knocked off a pair of top-10 opponents to start the season. Midway through the campaign, Noel posted a season-long five game point streak as Pitt went 2-1-2 in the stretch while playing four ranked opponents.
Noel will go down as one of the best to wear a Pitt jersey as he wraps up his career ranked second in program history in goals (35) and third in points (83). The senior also led all active ACC players this year in career shots (171), points (83) and goals (35).
The senior was named Third Team All-American last week as he closes out his career as one of two Panthers to earn All-American recognition twice. The senior also earned First Team All-South Region earlier this year, marking his third straight season earning the recognition and being the first Panther in program history to be honored three times.
Off the pitch, Noel became the first Panther in program history to earn Scholar All-American honors, being named a First Team member last week.
One of the best leaders and teammates to ever wear the Pitt jersey, Walti was selected with the No. 56 pick in the second round by Austin FC. The four-year captain had another excellent season manning the midfield for the Panthers as he started all 22 matches and played all but 14 minutes as Pitt advanced to their second College Cup in three seasons.
Walti earned Second Team All-ACC honors for the third straight season as he posted a career-high two goals and 15 shots for the Panthers. Known for his tenacious defense and leadership, Walti helped the Panthers secure eight clean sheets while posting the lowest goals against average in a season for Pitt (1.02 GAA).
Appearing in a program record 101 games while earning 98 starts, Walti logged 9,069 career minutes in the midfield for the Panthers which were a program record and rank second in NCAA history for minutes played in a career.
Off the pitch, Walti was a four-time Academic All-ACC member while also being named the 2022 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Award Recipient.
Panthers Drafted Under Head Coach Jay Vidovich
2018 – Pol Planellas – Second Round, 24th Overall Pick – Los Angeles FC
2019 – Javi Perez – Third Round, 64th Overall Pick – Los Angeles FC
2021 – Edward Kizza – First Round, 24th Overall Pick – New England Revolution
2022 – Arturo Ordoñez – Second Round, 39th Overall Pick – Houston Dynamo
2022 – Jasper Löeffelsend – Third Round, 81st Overall Pick – Real Salt Lake
2023 – Bertin Jacquesson – First Round, 16th Overall Pick – Real Salt Lake
2023 – Valentin Noel – First Round, 20th Overall Pick – Austin FC
2023 – Jackson Walti – Second Round, 56th Overall Pick – Austin FC
Jacquesson becomes the highest draft pick in Pitt program history. The duo of Jacquesson and Noel becomes the first duo at Pitt in any sport to go inside the top-20 since Bill Fralic and Chris Doleman were selected No. 2 and No. 4 overall in the 1985 NFL Draft.
Pitt has now seen multiple players selected in back-to-back drafts for the first time in program history. Since head coach Jay Vidovich took over the program seven years ago, the Panthers have seen a total of eight student-athletes drafted after not seeing any taken prior to Vidovich's hiring.
Amazing day to be a Panther ????
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) December 22, 2022
? Program record three draftees
? First Pitt program since football in 1985 to have two top-20 picks in the same draft#H2P pic.twitter.com/xHVDhgCP1X
A native of Lorrez-Le-Bocage, France, Jacquesson concludes his prolific Pitt career with 19 goals, 23 assists and 61 points across 57 matches. His 23 career assists are second in program history while his 61 career points ranks seventh in program history. Known for his speed and agility, Jacquesson has helped Pitt become one of the best programs in the nation over his career as he has helped the Panthers earn their first two College Cup trips in program history (2020, 2022).
This past season, Jacquesson battled through some injuries to earn Second Team All-ACC honors as he ranked second on the squad with eight goals, five assists and 21 points on a team-high 61 shots. He netted three game-winning goals including the most memorable of his collegiate career as he ripped home a shot into the upper left corner down a man in the 78th minute of the NCAA Tournament match at #1 Kentucky.
As a sophomore, Jacquesson earned Second Team All-ACC honors after netting seven goals, a career-high 11 assists and 25 points for the Panthers. His 11 assists are the second most in a single season in program history. He helped guide Pitt to their first College Cup appearance in his freshman campaign as he netted four goals, seven assists and 15 points while being named ACC Freshman of the Year.
Jacquesson joins his former teammate and friend Jasper Löeffelsend in Real Salt Lake for the 2023 campaign.
Dreams ?? Reality??
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) December 21, 2022
Junior @BertinJacquess4 goes No. 16 overall in the @MLS SuperDraft to @realsaltlake ??
? Highest draft pick in program history#H2P // #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/ZquaYYV8LC
Noel, a Niort, France native, was taken with the 20th pick of the first round by Austin FC. The dynamic playmaker led the Panthers and ranked second in the ACC in goals (12) while also leading the squad and ranking tied for third in the conference in points (25). Noel turned up his play in the postseason as he posted four goals and eight points in five matches as the Panthers knocked off Cleveland State, #16 Akron, #1 Kentucky and Portland before falling in the College Cup to #13 Indiana.
The Frenchman opened the season with goals in three straight games and a point in four straight games as Pitt knocked off a pair of top-10 opponents to start the season. Midway through the campaign, Noel posted a season-long five game point streak as Pitt went 2-1-2 in the stretch while playing four ranked opponents.
Noel will go down as one of the best to wear a Pitt jersey as he wraps up his career ranked second in program history in goals (35) and third in points (83). The senior also led all active ACC players this year in career shots (171), points (83) and goals (35).
The senior was named Third Team All-American last week as he closes out his career as one of two Panthers to earn All-American recognition twice. The senior also earned First Team All-South Region earlier this year, marking his third straight season earning the recognition and being the first Panther in program history to be honored three times.
Off the pitch, Noel became the first Panther in program history to earn Scholar All-American honors, being named a First Team member last week.
AND THERE HE GOES??
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) December 22, 2022
Senior @Vlnt_Noel goes No. 20 overall in the 2023 @MLS SuperDraft to @AustinFC.
Congrats, Val!#H2P // #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/TCT8CgaqGv
One of the best leaders and teammates to ever wear the Pitt jersey, Walti was selected with the No. 56 pick in the second round by Austin FC. The four-year captain had another excellent season manning the midfield for the Panthers as he started all 22 matches and played all but 14 minutes as Pitt advanced to their second College Cup in three seasons.
Walti earned Second Team All-ACC honors for the third straight season as he posted a career-high two goals and 15 shots for the Panthers. Known for his tenacious defense and leadership, Walti helped the Panthers secure eight clean sheets while posting the lowest goals against average in a season for Pitt (1.02 GAA).
Appearing in a program record 101 games while earning 98 starts, Walti logged 9,069 career minutes in the midfield for the Panthers which were a program record and rank second in NCAA history for minutes played in a career.
Off the pitch, Walti was a four-time Academic All-ACC member while also being named the 2022 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Award Recipient.
CAPTAIN GETS THE CALL ??
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) December 22, 2022
With the 56th overall pick in the 2023 @MLS SuperDraft, @AustinFC takes @JacksonWalti??
He joins @Vlnt_Noel in Austin!#H2P // #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/TrTRtNAiIy
Panthers Drafted Under Head Coach Jay Vidovich
2018 – Pol Planellas – Second Round, 24th Overall Pick – Los Angeles FC
2019 – Javi Perez – Third Round, 64th Overall Pick – Los Angeles FC
2021 – Edward Kizza – First Round, 24th Overall Pick – New England Revolution
2022 – Arturo Ordoñez – Second Round, 39th Overall Pick – Houston Dynamo
2022 – Jasper Löeffelsend – Third Round, 81st Overall Pick – Real Salt Lake
2023 – Bertin Jacquesson – First Round, 16th Overall Pick – Real Salt Lake
2023 – Valentin Noel – First Round, 20th Overall Pick – Austin FC
2023 – Jackson Walti – Second Round, 56th Overall Pick – Austin FC
Players Mentioned
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