October 21, 2025

Syracuse Men’s Soccer Team Falls to Pittsburgh in ACC Matchup

News Summary

The Syracuse men’s soccer team experienced a setback, losing 4-2 to the University of Pittsburgh. This defeat ends Syracuse’s four-game winning streak and leaves them with a record of 6-5-2. Pittsburgh secured their first ACC victory of the season, improving to 5-6-3 overall. The match saw multiple lead changes, with notable performances from both teams. Syracuse now ranks eighth in the ACC standings as they prepare for crucial upcoming matches.

Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse men’s soccer team suffered a setback on Saturday night, losing 4-2 to the University of Pittsburgh. With this defeat, Syracuse’s overall record fell to 6-5-2 and their Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record is now 3-3-0. Pittsburgh, who secured their first ACC win of the season, improved to 5-6-3 overall and 1-4-1 in conference play.

The match came on the heels of Syracuse’s previous four-game winning streak, which has now been interrupted by the loss to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh took an early advantage in the match after Arnau Vilamitjana scored a penalty kick in the 8th minute, with the decision confirmed by a video review that overturned the referee’s initial ruling.

In the 15th minute, Syracuse responded with a goal from Chimere Omeze, who equalized the score following a corner kick taken by Ernest Mensah Jr. However, Pittsburgh regained the lead just before halftime in the 33rd minute when Albert Thorsen netted a goal from a pass by Niklas Sorensen, making the score 2-1 at the break.

Shortly after the second half began, Vilamitjana added to Pittsburgh’s lead in the 48th minute with his second goal of the match, extending the score to 3-1. Syracuse’s Michael Acquah brought the Orange closer in the 50th minute, scoring his first goal for the team with an assist from Landon Darko to make it 3-2.

Pittsburgh ultimately sealed their victory when Vilamitjana completed his hat trick in the 67th minute, scoring off a free kick taken by Sorensen, further solidifying their advantage at 4-2.

Throughout the match, Pittsburgh outshot Syracuse 21 to 11, demonstrated by a notable 5-2 edge in corner kicks. Syracuse’s goalkeeper Tomas Hut was busy, making six saves during the game amid growing concerns regarding the team’s defensive pressure.

Currently, Syracuse ranks eighth in the ACC standings, with a five-point cushion above last-place Boston College. The Orange have three remaining regular-season games, including an upcoming match against Cornell on October 21. Following that, they will face tough competitions against No. 17 North Carolina and No. 6 NC State.

As they move forward, Syracuse head coach McIntyre highlighted the necessity of finishing the regular season strongly to enhance the team’s seeding in the upcoming ACC tournament. While recent performances have pointed to potential issues, the team’s earlier successes and competitive nature against ranked opponents continue to offer glimpses of optimism for future matches despite the recent loss to Pittsburgh.