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PITTSBURGH — No. 7 Pitt opened the 2022 season in thrilling fashion with a 2-1 win over No. 2 Georgetown in front of a record-setting capacity crowd (2,000) at Ambrose Urbanic Field Thursday evening. The French connection of Bertin Jacquesson and Valentin Noel provided the scoring punch, while Joe van der Sar and the entire Pitt defense came up big throughout the second half of play.
Georgetown stuck first scoring as Kenny Nielsen converted off a skipping cross through the box near the top of the six 4:29 into the contest.
Pitt countered in impressive fashion as Jacquesson carried down the right wing on the ensuing kickoff. His right foot strike from just outside the 18 deflected off a Georgetown defender at the point of contact, spinning the ball into the far corner of the net for the equalizer just 19 seconds after the opening goal.
Jacquesson continued to pressure the Georgetown defense with threatening runs from the wing. With 10:50 gone by the junior forward charged down the right side, stopped on a dime to free himself from a defender and send a crossing ball to a slashing Valentin Noel just inside the 18. Noel fired a one touch rocket over the Georgetown goalie into the upper part of the goal for a 2-1 Panthers lead.
The run of play fluctuated throughout the final 45 minutes of action with van der Sar coming up with a pair of big saves to secure the lead. In the 59th minutes the senior keeper made a diving save off a deflected shot from just outside the six. He delivered again in the 73rdminute with stabbing right hand deflection off a Georgetown flick off a bounding ball near the penalty hash.
Georgetown appeared to receive a golden opportunity in the 83rd minute with a penalty kick call. Upon referee review it was determined the foul initiated outside the box and the Hoyas received a free kick from just outside the 18. The Pitt defensive wall proved to be stout with a block of an initial attempt and a clear of an ensuing corner.
Georgetown continued to push forward while Pitt defense remained disciplined and solid in its tackling at the point of attack over the final seven minutes of action. The Panthers smothered a pair of corners in the final two minutes of action and put the game to bed when van der Sar shadowed a soft header off a long cross over the crossbar and into a free kick in the closing seconds.
Pitt returns to action Monday, Aug. 29 against No. 6 West Virginia in a Backyard Brawl rivalry game at Ambrose Urbanic Field (7 p.m.). Monday’s match will air live on ACC Network.
Notes
*** 25-3-1 at Ambrose Urbanic Field over the past four seasons, best home winning percentage in the ACC
*** Matched the program’s highest ranked win since topping No. 1 Virginia (10/18/19)
*** Jacquesson and Noel have now combined for 34 goals in the past three seasons, most among any duo in the ACC in that span
*** Noel moved into fifth place in the career record books with 25 goals … also moved into sixth all-time with 60 career points
*** Jacquesson now third in the Pitt career assists record books with 19
*** Walti made his 74th consecutive start … is the only player in the ACC with over 7,000 career minutes played
*** Sellout crowd of 2,000 marked the largest attended game in Ambrose Urbanic Field history
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