A run to the College Cup two seasons ago did not net the results that Pitt soccer wanted.
Many of the players on a one-time, 2020 national contender learned from experience, and two seasons following a disappointing end to its season, Pitt is heading back to the national semifinal to try to vindicate the situation.
A breakthrough header by Valentin Noel in the 104th minute against Portland let out a release of emotion -- from the 2,200 roaring fans rocking royal and gold on a fall-like, early December day, and especially from Noel, who was so elated that he ran from the left post of the Portland net across the field and over to the near sideline, took off his jersey, and waved it in celebration in front of the screaming faithful.
A yellow card he would gladly accept, one which sent the Panthers to their second College Cup in three seasons via a 1-0 winner in double OT.
114' | GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!@Vlnt_Noel heads home the first goal of the match after a great cross by @BertinJacquess4
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) December 3, 2022
Pitt 1, Portland 0#H2P pic.twitter.com/Jqm312izNJ
The goal was set up beautifully by Bertin Jacquesson, who continuously was able to lead the high-octane Panthers down the right side of the field in the bonus 20 minutes. Just prior to the goal, he had worked two consecutive balls down and into the right corner, only to send crosses over that would not eventually cross the goal line.
That is, until Noel found an opening in the Pilots defense, and put his head on that third ball, which whizzed past George Tasouris for the lone tally of the afternoon at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Noel was so enamored by the situation and by the biggest goal of his collegiate career, that he said he blacked out.
"They'll remember it," Noel said. "I blacked out, basically. I saw Bertin; we have a strong connection. I kind of know what he's going to do all the time, and on this one I was just trying to stay back-post a little bit. knew he would try to dribble, make a fake run, and then cross it. I just tried to stay in the little pocket in the box by myself, in a good situation to score. The ball, he played me a perfect ball. I could just kind of put my head on it. That was it. I don't remember, the ball in the net, honestly."
I asked Noel to describe the game-winning goal for #Pitt.
— Corey Crisan (@cdcrisan) December 3, 2022
“They’ll remember it. I blacked out, basically.”
😅 pic.twitter.com/XZZ0SHp8EV
For a team which finished 8-4-5 overall and 3-2-3 in ACC play this season, these Panthers know how to win in the NCAA Tournament. Pitt is now on a four-game winning streak in the 2022 tournament, and it improved its record to 10-2-1 all-time in the big dance, all under coach Jay Vidovich.
Vidovich, in his seventh season at Pitt, got to see his two brightest stars shine through in the moment where he needed them to on Saturday. Jacquesson is now second in program history with his 23 assists, and Noel now is second in program history with 83 points, one shy of tying Eric Prex and Joe Luxbacher's record.
But, this team's supporting cast provided the necessary jolt for the resurgence back into the College Cup. Filip Mirkovic set up plenty of chances for the Panthers on Saturday, after pacing the team in assists this season with 12. The Pitt offense was relentless on Saturday, particularly in the first half, despite being held to a zero on the scoreboard.
"You have the confidence in what you're capable of, but sometimes it doesn't work your way," Jacquesson said. "Sometimes you question yourself, but always be confident of your skills, and i's going to show up at some point if you're doing the right thing. I think we showed that today."
The Panthers attempted 15 shots and six on goal in the first half, compared to Portland's one shot, which was not on goal. For the game, Pitt posted 32 shots and 11 on goal to Portland's eight shots and two on goal.
It came from a balanced, veteran attack which has elevated this club to this familiar height. Lucas Rosa and Rodrigo Almeida each put two shots on goal, while Noel and Mirkovic posted three on goal. (Rosa entered Saturday fourth on the team with 12 SOG this season.)
Only Nick Fernandez and Gurman Sangha were able to post more than one shot on net for Portland.
It comes from knowledge on both sides of the field, and this Pitt team knows exactly how much effort needed to go into a game like Saturday's, where nothing was seemingly breaking through. They kept fighting, and eventually, the offensive onslaught was able to break Portland down.
And with that effort, the chance to bring back a championship to Oakland remains alive.
"There's experience of the guys, experience of the coaching staff, and it's been part of the plan," Vidovich said. "Nobody ever buys into your plan, but we've prepared for a lot of situations. Right now, the biggest one is we now have to cover, and guys put that plan together. ... Everything else, the guys have been putting in the time for at least this season, if not -- these two (Jacquesson and Noel) have been to a Final Four before, and the guys that have been there, they know the challenge of it, what's coming, a little bit.
"The other ones, hopefully, will pick up on their lead. We've been preparing for this all along. Whether it's restarts or situations in matches, they're ready for it. Their experiences in the games is what's taught them even more, and going through what we had to do today, we learned a lot. We'll be ready."
Pitt advances to face No. 13-seed Indiana on Friday at 8:30 p.m. in Cary, N.C. The other national semifinal will pit No. 3-seed Syracuse against Creighton at 6 p.m. on Friday. The National Championship match is Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. in Cary.
"This year, we knew that we were capable of doing it, but we're kind of the underdog," Jacquesson said. "We went to Akron, we went to Kentucky, and it allowed us to say, 'hey, we can do it. Even if we're not playing at home, we can do it. We can be the No. 1 team.'"
