After last season's disappointment, Pitt men's soccer team returns to national title picture

Pitt men’s soccer coach Jay Vidovich insists that he and women’s volleyball coach Dan Fisher haven’t made a wager regarding which program finishes with a higher ranking.

Fisher’s team is No. 1 in the country for the third week in a row, and Vidovich’s group ascended to the top of the United Soccer Coaches poll this week after starting the season unranked. By all accounts, it is the first time two Pitt teams have been No. 1 simultaneously.

“I don’t think either of us cares who is ranked higher,” Vidovich said. “It’s just who gets the trophy.”

It appeared to be a longshot — at least to college soccer pundits — that Vidovich’s team would be in the “trophy” conversation. But at 7-1 (3-0 ACC) heading into Friday’s conference match with No. 17 Virginia Tech (5-1-1, 1-1), the Panthers have made the nation take notice.

In the big picture, it shouldn’t be a surprise considering, in the past four seasons, Pitt has made two College Cups — the equivalent of basketball’s Final Four — and a national quarterfinal appearance. Even last year, when the Panthers were a pedestrian 6-7-4 overall, they had enough cachet to earn an at-large tournament bid.

Still, it was a season that was not up to the standard of the previous three. The 2024 team features many of the same players — seven starters and two of the three subs who played in last fall’s first-round loss to James Madison — but Vidovich said the group has matured.

“They’re willing to take a look at a win and break it down, and they are able to look at a loss and know it’s not a death sentence but (see) this is what has to get better,” the ninth-year coach said.

Added junior keeper Cabral Carter: “Being at a program like this where we’re often in the rankings and teams prior have gone to the final four twice, elite eight, I think it can be easy to think that the winning comes easy. But I think last year was a slap in the face and a reminder that winning is really, really difficult.”

The 2024 Panthers have been as stingy on defense as they have been prolific on offense. They have outscored opponents 18-5 heading into Friday’s match, with seniors Luis Sahmkow (seven goals) and Guilherme Feitosa (three) and sophomore Albert Thorsen (five) leading the way.

Defensively, keepers Carter (three) and Jack Moxom (one) have combined for four shutouts. In front of them, Mateo Maillefaud, Jackson Gillman, Niklas Soerensen and Casper Svendby have limited opponents to 59 shots, only 27 of those on target.

“Whether it’s the guys up front pressing or the guys in the back cleaning things up. I think it’s just really been a team effort,” Carter said. “The entire team is so bought in to keeping clean sheets, and it makes my job really easy.”

Svendby, a transfer from Dayton, and Soerensen are among the newcomers who have been key to Pitt’s success. Grad midfielder Arnau Vilamitjana (Spain), who came up in the FC Barcelona system, has provided a steadying presence, while fellow midfielder Casper Grening, a transfer from Kentucky, has bolstered the attack with a goal and three assists.

Senior midfielder Michael Sullivan (Deer Lakes) adds a wealth of experience with 48 matches (24 starts) in a Pitt uniform entering the season.

They all have blended to push Pitt to the top of the poll. And while a No. 1 ranking at the midpoint of the season certainly doesn’t guarantee a national title, Carter said it shows that the program has returned to the high standards established under Vidovich.

“It’s definitely a rewarding feeling for us to know that other people really see we have the potential to be a team that can do some pretty great things this year,” Carter said. “… Seeing a No. 1 in front of our name doesn’t change anything. We’re really focused on trying to win a couple of trophies this year.”