Pitt now has the top team in the country in two different sports. Pitt volleyball has occupied the top spot for a few weeks now, and Pitt men’s soccer has officially joined them.
Pitt men’s soccer jumped a spot in the United Soccer Coaches Poll to achieve the top ranking for the first time this season — after starting the season unranked.
The Panthers received all eight first-place and 200 total points in the poll, taking the top spot from Stanford.
The ACC now has the No. 1, 2 and 3 teams in the country (Pitt, Stanford and North Carolina), and Clemson, SMU and Virginia Tech are also ranked. North Carolina State received votes.
Pitt is 7-1 (3-0 ACC) with the lone loss coming to No. 20 Penn on the road earlier this month. The Panthers have knocked off No. 16 SMU, Louisville and Boston College to start conference play and travel to Virginia Tech on Friday.
Pitt hasn’t been ultra-efficient this season, allowing just five goals — with a 1.62 margin per game (which is third-best in the ACC).
Senior forward Luis Sahmkow leads Pitt with seven goals in eight games, pacing the Panthers with 14 points, while senior midfielder Guilherme Feitosa (three goals and five assists) and sophomore forward Albert Thorson (five goals and one assist) have 11 points.
Junior goalkeeper Carter Cabral has been one of the best keepers in the conference, allowing just four goals through six appearances this season — a stellar .67 goals-against average.
There’s a long road ahead for both volleyball and men’s soccer, but the talent level in Pittsburgh (looking at women’s soccer and football) is as high — if not higher — as it’s ever been. It’s the first time that two Pitt programs have been ranked No. 1 at the same time.
It’s a damn good time to be a fan of Panthers athletics.
PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD. LET ONE TEAM IN MY LIFE TIME WIN A NATTY AT PITT… WE GOT TWO THAT HAVE A CHANCE. H2P💙💛💙💛🙏🇺🇸
It was great having a wrestling National champ recently, Time to have a team win one.