Panthers Play Host To No. 19 Denver Monday Night At Ambrose Urbanic Field

Monday, September 25

Pittsburgh, PA

7 PM

Pitt

#19 Denver

Tickets

Panthers Play Host To No. 19 Denver Monday Night At Ambrose Urbanic Field

9/24/2023 12:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Watch Live Stats Match Notes

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men's soccer team (3-3-2, 1-1-1 ACC) returns to Ambrose Urbanic Field on Monday night as they welcome No. 19 Denver for a non-conference battle. Monday's match will kick at 7:00 pm and air live on ACC Network.

GAME PROMOTION

The first 250 students in attendance on Monday night will receive a Pitt soccer crest flag

FOLLOW ALONG

Monday night's contest will air live on ACC Network and can be found online HERE.
Live stats for Friday's game can be found HERE.
Live updates throughout the game will also be posted on Twitter by following the Pitt men's soccer account @Pitt_MSOC.

THE SERIES VS. DENVER

This meeting marks the third matchup between the two programs with the Panthers holding the 1-0-1 all-time record against the Pioneers
The two teams played to a 2-2 draw last season in Pittsburgh. Filip Mirkovic and Luis Sahmkow netted the goals for Pitt. Sahmkow earned the game-tying goal with the penalty kick goal in the 78th minute
The Panthers collected the win in the series' inaugural matchup in 2019 as they won 3-2 in double overtime at Ambrose Urbanic Field

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS

Denver has amassed a 5-1-3 overall record and a 1-0-0 Summit League mark so far this season after earning a 2-0 road win over at St. Thomas on Saturday.
Denver is currently ranked No. 19 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll.
The Pioneers are being led offensively by Oje Ofunrein who leads the NCAA with eight goals, two assists and 18 points on 13 shots. He has also netted a team-leading four game-winning goals on the year. Sam Bassett is enjoying a strong start to his season as he has six goals, four assists and 16 points on a team-high 26 shots.
Denver has seven different players who have at least two assists while seven players also have recorded at least one goal.
In goal, Isaac Nehme has started all nine matches and owns a 5-1-3 overall record with a 1.00 goals-against average and five clean sheets.
Denver was tabbed to repeat as Summit League champs in the preseason coaches' poll while Sam Bassett and Ben Smith were named to the conference's Players to Watch list.

LAST TIME OUT AT SYRACUSE

Despite scoring the first goal of the match in the fifth minute on Friday night, the Panthers fell 3-2 on the road to No. 7 Syracuse. The Orange netted a goal in the final seconds of the opening half to tie the match, 2-2, and they netted the game-winner in the 56th minute off of a corner kick.
Pitt played a majority of the second half down a man as Michael Sullivan was given two yellow cards. Pitt then received a pair of red cards late which forced the Panthers to finish the match with just nine players on the pitch.
Abdoulaye Toure and Luis Sahmkow netted the goals in the loss for Pitt. Each have now scored in back-to-back matches for the first time this season. Mateo Maillefaud and Albert Thorsen added an assist each in the road loss.
For the match, Syracuse held the 15-5 lead in shots and the 10-5 edge in corner kicks.
In goal, Cabral Carter finished his night with three saves in the loss while Syracuse keeper Jason Smith made two stops in the win.

SAHMKOW LEADING THE OFFENSIVE ATTACK

With a whole new attacking group joining the fold this season, junior Luis Sahmkow has been tasked with picking up some of the scoring burden and he's delivered through the first eight matches of the season.
So far this season, Sahmkow has started six matches for the Panthers and secured a team-high six goals on 13 shots while converting on a NCAA-leading 3-for-3 on penalty shots.
His six goals are tied for second in the ACC while his 1.0 goals per game leads the conference and is tied for second in the NCAA. He also leads all players in the NCAA with three penalty kick markers on the year.
Last time out, Sahmkow netted his fourth goal in two matches as he bent a shot inside the right post in the 3-2 road loss to Syracuse. He finished the match with a goal and two shots on goal.
In the win over FDU, Sahmkow had the best game of his career as he netted his first career hat trick. After converting on a PK in the fourth minute, he netted two goals in the second half just over two minutes apart.
He is the first Panther since Edward Kizza in 2018 (twice) to net a hat trick.
For his career, Sahmkow now has 11 goals and 26 points in 31 games. His .36 goals per match is fourth best in program history while his .84 points per game is fifth best in program history.

HOME TURF ADVANTAGE

The Panthers have been one of the best teams in the country on their home turf over the past four seasons as they own a 35-5-6 record at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Pitt held a 19-match home winning streak from Oct. 7, 2019 to Nov. 10, 2021, which at the time was the longest streak in the ACC and second longest unbeaten streak in the nation.
Head coach Jay Vidovich is 38-18-8 at home in his eight seasons at Pitt.
Since the start of the 2019 season, Pitt has outscored its opponents 118-45 at home including a 15-5 advantage this season.
The Panthers win percentage (.826) at home since 2019 is the best in the ACC and 7th best overall in the NCAA.

Home Win % Since 2019

# TEAM                  RECORD             %
1. Georgetown        39-2-6           .894
2. Missouri State     36-3-3           .893
3. New Hampshire   35-3-4           .881
4. Cornell                19-2-3           .854
5. Kentucky             41-6-5           .837
6. Campbell             32-3-9           .830
7. Pitt                     35-5-6           .826
8. Washington         34-7-3           .807
9. Clemson              41-8-5           .806
10. Yale                   16-4-3           .761

NEXT UP

Pitt returns to action Friday night as they welcome ACC foe North Carolina for a conference battle. Friday's match will kick at 7:00 pm and air live on ACC Network Extra.