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Pitt’s Fall Rise Showing in National Polls
9/27/2022 4:48:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Volleyball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt Athletics continues to experience unprecedented success during the fall season with the football, men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball teams each ranking in the Top-25 of their respective national polls. Pitt is one of two athletic departments in the country with all four programs – football, men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball – ranked in the national polls this week.
"We are excited about the continued success and trajectory of our football, men's soccer, volleyball and women's soccer teams this fall," said Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. "The extraordinary efforts across the board by our student-athletes, coaches, and support staff have helped create sustainable winning cultures in each of those programs. Winning is contagious and we are committed building champions and pursuing excellence here at Pitt. The fan support at our home events this fall has been outstanding and make a difference! We are looking forward to seeing it continue to grow with so many key ACC contests coming up for each of our programs."
Pitt has now had its football, men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball programs ranked in the national polls at the same time three times in department history. All four programs were ranked twice during the 2020 fall season (Sept. 20-26 and Sept. 27-Oct. 2).
Football – No. 24 [AP] / No. 24 [USA Today Coaches] l Upcoming Schedule l Tickets
The Pitt football team (3-1) is ranked No. 24 this week in both the Associated Press media poll and the USA Today coaches poll. The Panthers have been ranked every week in September for the first time since 2003. Pitt has appeared in the AP Top 25 for 13 consecutive polls dating back to last October. Junior running back Israel Abanikanda is off to a terrific start to the season and is coming off his second ACC Running Back of the Week honor. He rushed for career highs of 177 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries—an impressive 9.3 average. His touchdowns covered 67, 12, 24 and 13 yards. Abanikanda added a 19-yard reception for a total of 196 yards from scrimmage and 245 all-purpose yards against Rhode Island. Abanikanda has now rushed for more than 100 yards in three consecutive games, the first time a Pitt player has accomplished that feat since Darrin Hall in 2017. On the year, he has rushed for 479 yards and six touchdowns on 83 carries (5.8 avg.), boasting top-10 national rankings in all-purpose yards (second, 180.25 avg.), rushing yards (sixth, 119.8 avg.), total touchdowns (fifth, seven total), rushing TDs (seventh, six total) and scoring (10th, 10.5 avg.). On the other side of the ball, Pitt continues stop the run (26th nationally in rushing defense), sack the opposing quarterback (19th nationally), and convert turnovers into points (fifth nationally with two defensive touchdowns). Over the past two seasons, Pitt leads the NCAA with six interception returns for touchdowns.
Men's Soccer – No. 10 [United Soccer Coaches] l Upcoming Schedule l Tickets
The men's soccer team has amassed a 5-2-1 overall record and a 2-1 ACC mark so far this season while earning a national ranking of No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll. Pitt has now been ranked for 37 consecutive weeks (currently the longest streak in the nation). The Panthers have played one of the toughest schedules in the nation so far this season as five of their eight opponents were nationally ranked, marking the first time in program history they played five nationally ranked foes through the first eight games. Leading the way for the Pitt offense is Bertin Jacquesson who has four goals, three assists and 11 points while Filip Mirkovic has accumulated two goals, a team-high five assists and nine points in six matches. Defensively, the Panthers backline and goalkeeper Joe van der Sar have have enjoyed a strong start to the season as they have allowed just eight goals in eight games while securing four cleansheets.
Volleyball – No. 10 [AVCA Coaches] l Upcoming Schedule l Tickets
Pitt Volleyball (11-2, 2-0) has been ranked in 76 consecutive AVCA Coaches polls dating back to the 2018 preseason. The Panthers emerged from one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country with a 9-2 record, securing ranked wins against No. 7 BYU and No. 5 Ohio State. Pitt swept the Buckeyes inside Fitzgerald Field House, marking the first sweep over a Top 5 opponent, at home, in program history. Pitt opened ACC play this past weekend, securing a pair of four-set victories over North Carolina and NC State, starting the conference schedule 2-0 for the seventh time in the last eight years and the eighth time in 10 seasons under head coach Dan Fisher. 2021 All-American Serena Gray is 16th in the country with a .412 hitting percentage as she aims to become just the second Panther all-time to string together back-to-back .400 hitting seasons.
Women's Soccer – No. 14 [United Soccer Coaches] l Upcoming Schedule l Tickets
The Pitt women's soccer team (10-1, 3-0 ACC) entered the United Soccer Coaches Poll this week ranked No. 14 in the country, marking the third-straight season the Panthers have been ranked. Pitt is off to its best start in program history and has matched the 2015 squad for the best start to ACC play in program history. The Panthers' hot start has been highlighted by a 3-1 road victory over then-No. 17-ranked Notre Dame, marking the first time Pitt has defeated the Fighting Irish in program history. Pitt has been led by senior forward Leah Pais, who has scored all seven of her team-leading goals in the last six games. The Panthers boast a balanced attack, with 13 different players finding the back of the net so far this season. After going 9-22-4 in the first two years of a massive rebuild, Pitt has gone 32-15 over the last two-plus seasons under the guidance of head coach Randy Waldrum.
"We are excited about the continued success and trajectory of our football, men's soccer, volleyball and women's soccer teams this fall," said Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. "The extraordinary efforts across the board by our student-athletes, coaches, and support staff have helped create sustainable winning cultures in each of those programs. Winning is contagious and we are committed building champions and pursuing excellence here at Pitt. The fan support at our home events this fall has been outstanding and make a difference! We are looking forward to seeing it continue to grow with so many key ACC contests coming up for each of our programs."
Pitt has now had its football, men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball programs ranked in the national polls at the same time three times in department history. All four programs were ranked twice during the 2020 fall season (Sept. 20-26 and Sept. 27-Oct. 2).
Football – No. 24 [AP] / No. 24 [USA Today Coaches] l Upcoming Schedule l Tickets
The Pitt football team (3-1) is ranked No. 24 this week in both the Associated Press media poll and the USA Today coaches poll. The Panthers have been ranked every week in September for the first time since 2003. Pitt has appeared in the AP Top 25 for 13 consecutive polls dating back to last October. Junior running back Israel Abanikanda is off to a terrific start to the season and is coming off his second ACC Running Back of the Week honor. He rushed for career highs of 177 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries—an impressive 9.3 average. His touchdowns covered 67, 12, 24 and 13 yards. Abanikanda added a 19-yard reception for a total of 196 yards from scrimmage and 245 all-purpose yards against Rhode Island. Abanikanda has now rushed for more than 100 yards in three consecutive games, the first time a Pitt player has accomplished that feat since Darrin Hall in 2017. On the year, he has rushed for 479 yards and six touchdowns on 83 carries (5.8 avg.), boasting top-10 national rankings in all-purpose yards (second, 180.25 avg.), rushing yards (sixth, 119.8 avg.), total touchdowns (fifth, seven total), rushing TDs (seventh, six total) and scoring (10th, 10.5 avg.). On the other side of the ball, Pitt continues stop the run (26th nationally in rushing defense), sack the opposing quarterback (19th nationally), and convert turnovers into points (fifth nationally with two defensive touchdowns). Over the past two seasons, Pitt leads the NCAA with six interception returns for touchdowns.
Men's Soccer – No. 10 [United Soccer Coaches] l Upcoming Schedule l Tickets
The men's soccer team has amassed a 5-2-1 overall record and a 2-1 ACC mark so far this season while earning a national ranking of No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll. Pitt has now been ranked for 37 consecutive weeks (currently the longest streak in the nation). The Panthers have played one of the toughest schedules in the nation so far this season as five of their eight opponents were nationally ranked, marking the first time in program history they played five nationally ranked foes through the first eight games. Leading the way for the Pitt offense is Bertin Jacquesson who has four goals, three assists and 11 points while Filip Mirkovic has accumulated two goals, a team-high five assists and nine points in six matches. Defensively, the Panthers backline and goalkeeper Joe van der Sar have have enjoyed a strong start to the season as they have allowed just eight goals in eight games while securing four cleansheets.
Volleyball – No. 10 [AVCA Coaches] l Upcoming Schedule l Tickets
Pitt Volleyball (11-2, 2-0) has been ranked in 76 consecutive AVCA Coaches polls dating back to the 2018 preseason. The Panthers emerged from one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country with a 9-2 record, securing ranked wins against No. 7 BYU and No. 5 Ohio State. Pitt swept the Buckeyes inside Fitzgerald Field House, marking the first sweep over a Top 5 opponent, at home, in program history. Pitt opened ACC play this past weekend, securing a pair of four-set victories over North Carolina and NC State, starting the conference schedule 2-0 for the seventh time in the last eight years and the eighth time in 10 seasons under head coach Dan Fisher. 2021 All-American Serena Gray is 16th in the country with a .412 hitting percentage as she aims to become just the second Panther all-time to string together back-to-back .400 hitting seasons.
Women's Soccer – No. 14 [United Soccer Coaches] l Upcoming Schedule l Tickets
The Pitt women's soccer team (10-1, 3-0 ACC) entered the United Soccer Coaches Poll this week ranked No. 14 in the country, marking the third-straight season the Panthers have been ranked. Pitt is off to its best start in program history and has matched the 2015 squad for the best start to ACC play in program history. The Panthers' hot start has been highlighted by a 3-1 road victory over then-No. 17-ranked Notre Dame, marking the first time Pitt has defeated the Fighting Irish in program history. Pitt has been led by senior forward Leah Pais, who has scored all seven of her team-leading goals in the last six games. The Panthers boast a balanced attack, with 13 different players finding the back of the net so far this season. After going 9-22-4 in the first two years of a massive rebuild, Pitt has gone 32-15 over the last two-plus seasons under the guidance of head coach Randy Waldrum.
Players Mentioned
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