Men’s soccer kicks it up a notch for the 2024 season

With the fall semester rapidly approaching, Pitt men’s soccer is starting to gear up for yet another compelling season under head coach Jay Vidovich. 

Last season, the Panthers finished with an overall record of 6-7-4 and a 2-3-3 ACC record. Pitt lost in double overtime to No. 9 Louisville in the first round of the 2023 ACC Tournament. At the 2023 Division 1 Men’s Soccer Championship, the Panthers lost in the first round to James Madison. But this was also Pitt’s fifth consecutive appearance, good for the second-longest active streak in the ACC. 

Vidovich is set to return to the Panthers for his ninth season at Pitt. In 2021, Vidovich was named the ACC Coach of the Year for the seventh time in his coaching career. The seven-time ACC Coach of the Year winner also received the NSCAA National Coach of the Year, NSCAA South Region Coach of the Year and the Walt Chyzowych Award in his coaching career. 

The Panthers return 19 players in 2024, including three players who competed in all 17 matches last season. One of the three, junior goalkeeper Cabral Carter, ranked fourth in the ACC for shutouts and saves per game. 

Senior midfielder Guilherme Feitosa is set to return after a successful last season as a leader of the team. The Brazilian midfielder suffered from numerous injuries last season but was named part of the All-ACC Academic Team in 2023 for the third straight season. Feitosa ended the 2023 season with two goals and three assists in his limited action.

Ten first-years and three transfers are set to join the Panthers in the fall. The three impactful transfers coming to Pitt for the 2024 season are Casper Grening from Kentucky, Logan Oliver from Indiana and Casper Svendby from Dayton. 

Five of Pitt’s top seven goal scorers are returning to the team. The Panthers also return the bulk of their assist-producers from 2023, Pitt’s returnees accounted for 56% of the program’s 36 assists last year. In 2023, Pitt ranked No. 3 in the ACC for assists per game. 

Pitt is one of four programs in the country with two College Cup appearances since 2020, as it appeared in 2020 and 2022. Pitt ranked third in the ACC in total wins during that span. 

The Panthers kick off their season at home with an exhibition game against Maryland on Aug. 10. Pitt’s first regular season match is Aug. 22 against Georgetown, which was last season’s Big East runner-up. In 2023, Pitt’s game against Georgetown resulted in the Panthers’ first loss of its 2023 season, proving the Hoyas are a tough contender for Vidovich’s squad.

“​​Overall, we expect the 2024 campaign to be a challenge,” Vidovich said of the Panthers’ schedule. “But we’ll look to rise to the occasion.”

Pitt announced its promotional schedule on Aug. 1. It includes a poster and flag giveaways, several happy hours and raffles to help draw in a larger base of fans. 

Students are granted free admission with their Panther Card. Additionally, single-match tickets are now available through the Panthers’ Ticket Office for $10 each or on the day of the game for $12 each. Season tickets for the nine home games are also available for $50. 

The Panthers are expected to have a challenging season, but with a strong roster and returning coach, Pitt could return to its Final Four form.