The defending ACC Coastal Division champion Pitt men’s soccer team will enter the 2021 season ranked No. 3 in the nation, according to the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
Pitt received one first-place vote from the coaches association. Defending national champion Marshall (22 first-place votes) and Indiana are ranked Nos. 1 and 2. North Carolina and Georgetown round out the top five. Penn State is ranked 11th.
In the women’s poll, Penn State is ranked 10th and West Virginia 12th. Florida State is No. 1, followed by defending NCAA champion Santa Clara, North Carolina, Virginia and UCLA.
The Panthers reached a No. 1 ranking last season when they finished 16-4 overall and went 9-1 in the ACC before reaching the College Cup final four for the first time in program history.
They were ranked No. 4 in the preseason last year and have spent 20 consecutive weeks in the poll.
Pitt opens its season at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 with a home exhibition against Robert Morris. The Panthers begin the regular season Aug. 26 with an 8 p.m. home match against Duquesne.
