Pitt men’s soccer makes history with No. 1 ranking

Pitt has reached the top!

For the first time in program history, Pitt men’s soccer has received the No. 1 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Panthers have started the year 4-0, including two top-five wins on the road at Notre Dame and Virginia.

The ranking represents another milestone in Pitt’s thunderous rebuild under head coach Jay Vidovich. The Panthers made their first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1965 last year and earned their first NCAA tournament win in program history.

The men’s soccer program now joins men’s basketball and football as the only teams in Pitt’s history to reach the top of the national rankings. The basketball program last gained the No. 1 spot in 2009 under former head coach Jamie Dixon, and football in 1982.

Wake Forest, the powerhouse program Vidovich built before coming to Pittsburgh, had the No. 1 ranking for the first four weeks of the season, but dropped to No. 2 this week after losing 2-1 at Clemson. Although the Demon Deacons beat the Panthers in an exhibition matchup prior to the season, the two teams won’t play each other in the regular season, meaning they will have to wait for the ACC Tournament in November for a potential rematch.

Pitt will have another opportunity to extend its perfect record when the Panthers travel to Louisville on Friday. They’ll close out the regular season at home the next two weeks against Notre Dame and Syracuse, who they’ve beaten once already this year.