#23 Pitt Welcomes #9 Duke For Senior Day At Ambrose Saturday Night

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt men's soccer team (6-4-3, 2-2-2 ACC) will close out their regular season home schedule Saturday night as they welcome #9 Duke to Ambrose Urbanic Field for an ACC battle. Saturday's match will kick at 7:00 pm and air live on ACC Network Extra.

Pitt will honor their four seniors, Filip Mirkovic, Mathys Lefebvre, Joao Souza and Fabian Grau prior to the match as part of their Senior Night festivities. Pitt will also honor their Forever Panthers (alums) at halftime with a special recognition.

FOLLOW ALONG

Saturday night's contest will air live on ACC Network Extra and can be found online HERE.
Live stats for Saturday'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. DUKE

This meeting marks the 14th all-time between the two programs with the Blue Devils holding the 6-4-3 edge in the series.
Pitt is unbeaten in their previous five matches against Duke as they have gone 4-0-1 in that span.
The two teams met last season in Durham, NC and neither team was able to score in the 0-0 draw. Pitt held the 10-7 edge in shots in the tie.
Pitt won each of the past two matches against the Blue Devils at Ambrose Urbanic Field including a 3-2 win in 2021. Overall Pitt is 2-4-0 against Duke at home in the series.

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS

Duke enters Sunday's match with an 8-3-1 overall record and a 3-3-0 ACC mark. They have won two straight including a 2-1 home win over NC State last time out.
Duke is currently ranked #9 in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll.
The Blue Devils are being led offensively by Forster Ajago who currently leads the ACC and ranks fifth in the NCAA with 11 goals on an ACC-high 51 shots. He has netted three game-winners in eight wins for Duke.
Nick Pariano is enjoying a good season as he netted four goals and a team-high five assists for 13 points on 28 shots. Ruben Mesalles has three goals, three assists and nine points on 18 shots.
The potent Duke attack leads the ACC in shots/game (18.4) while ranking second in goals/game (2.4).
In goal, Julian Eyestone has started all 12 matches while posting a 8-3-1 record with a 1.17 goals-against average and 29 saves while posting four clean sheets.

LAST TIME OUT VS. DUQUESNE

After a dominant but scoreless first half against Duquesne on Tuesday, the Panthers offense turned it on in the second half with a pair of goals to secure the 2-0 home win over the rival Dukes.
Junior Guilherme Feitosa opened the scoring for the Panthers in the 66th minute. Filip Mirkovic and Fabian Grau earned the assists on Feitosa's second of the season.
Raphael Cilli secured the win for the Panthers in the 89th minute as he ripped home his second of the season. Luka Kozomara and Michael Sullivan collected the assists on the goal.
For the match, Pitt held the 9-6 edge in shots and the 4-3 lead in corner kicks.
In goal, Cabral Carter made three saves in his fifth shutout of the season.

SECOND HALF DOMINATION

One of the strengths of this Pitt squad so far this season has been their ability to make changes at halftime and own the second half of play.
So far this season, Pitt owns a 15-5 edge in second half scoring.
Last time out, the Panthers netted a pair of second half goals to secure the 2-0 cleansheet over the Duquesne Dukes.
Pitt has outscored their opponent seven times in the second half this season. They are 6-0-1 on the season when they win the scoring battle in the second 45 minutes.
The Panthers are 0-3-0 when they are outscored in the second half of games.
Pitt has outscored their opponents 14-2 in the second half in home matches at Ambrose Urbanic Field this season. They own a 6-1-2 record on their home turf.

PANTHERS OWN SECOND HARDEST STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE IN NATION

What has become every season thing for the Panthers since head coach Jay Vidovich took over the program, Pitt once again has played one of the hardest schedules in the nation.
Pitt currently owns the second hardest strength of schedule in the nation heading into Saturday's match against Duke. Pitt's two remaining opponents in the regular season are currently ranked inside the top-10 so Pitt should own the toughest strength of schedule in the nation at the end of the regular season.
So far this year, Pitt has played five ranked opponents including three who were top-10 teams.
All four of Pitt's losses this season have come against programs currently ranked ahead of the Panthers (No. 19) in the RPI poll.

NEXT UP

Pitt hits the road for their regular season finale Friday, October 27 at 7:00 pm as they take on #6 Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. The match will mean a lot for ACC Tournament seeding as the Irish currently own the top spot in the Coastal Division with the Panthers sitting in fourth, just two points out of second.

#23 Pitt Welcomes #9 Duke For Senior Day At Ambrose Saturday Night

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cabral Carter

Raphael Cilli

Guilherme Feitosa

Fabian Grau

Luka Kozomara

Mathys Lefebvre

Filip Mirkovic

Joao Souza

Michael Sullivan

#23 Pitt Welcomes #9 Duke For Senior Day At Ambrose Saturday Night

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Cabral Carter

Raphael Cilli

Guilherme Feitosa

Fabian Grau

Luka Kozomara

Mathys Lefebvre

Filip Mirkovic

Joao Souza

Michael Sullivan

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