A season to remember for the Pitt men’s soccer team isn’t over yet.
The No. 25 Panthers (9-7-2) earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Monday, marking their first appearance since 1965.
No better feeling!?#H2P | @NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/mtXNcqecyl
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) November 18, 2019
Pitt, ranked for the first time since 2002, will host Patriot League champion Lehigh (13-4-3) at 7 p.m. Thursday. The winner advances to face third-seeded Georgetown on Sunday.
For the first time since 1965...
— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) November 18, 2019
??'?? ??!!!!
?: Lehigh
?: Pittsburgh, Pa.
?️: Thursday, Nov. 21#H2P pic.twitter.com/6R4xzg7fDi
Ten ACC teams were selected for the tournament, the most ever by a conference.
Pitt is coming off a 1-0 loss to No. 1 Clemson in the ACC semifinals. The Panthers beat N.C. State, 2-1, in overtime in the ACC quarterfinals.
The Panthers beat three ranked teams this season under fourth-year coach Jay Vidovich, including a 2-0 victory at then-No. 1 Virginia. Pitt also beat then-No. 22 Virginia Tech, 3-1, and then-No. 17 James Madison, 1-0.
Forward Edward Kizza leads the team with 11 goals. The junior, who earned first-team All-ACC honors, is tied for second with 30 career goals.
Junior defender Sito Sena and freshman midfielder Veljko Petkovic (six goals, five assists) were named third-team all-conference.
Penn State and West Virginia also received NCAA bids.
Penn State (12-3-3), seeded 15th, has a first-round bye and hosts the winner of Providence and NJIT at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Mid-American Conference champion West Virginia (9-8-2) visits Butler (11-6-2) at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the winner advances to take on 11th-seeded Marshall on Sunday.
