Pitt soccer stars Valentin Noel and Arturo Ordoñez make Top Drawer Team of the Week

The Pitt men’s soccer team is now No. 1 in the nation after going undefeated through its first four games, and on Tuesday morning, the rising stars behind the team’s most recent victory earned spots on the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week for their efforts.

In total, two Pitt players were honored on Tuesday, including Panthers forward Valentin Noel and Panthers defender Arturo Ordoñez. Noel scored the first two goals in then-No. 2 Pitt’s 3-2 overtime win over No. 5 Virginia on Sunday night. And although Pitt allowed Virginia to tie the game and force overtime, Ordoñez scored the game-winning goal three minutes into the extra period to secure the win. The goal was Ordoñez’s first of the season, and it was his second contribution to the win, as he set up Noel’s first goal of the night.

For Noel, who has scored a pair of goals in each of Pitt’s last two games, Tuesday marked the second consecutive time he was recognized by Top Drawer, as he earned honorable mention last week. But Panthers midfielders Bertin Jacquesson and Veljko Petkovic earned Top Drawer honors, and Jacquesson was named the Top Drawer Player of the Week. For Ordoñez, the national honor on Tuesday was his first of the 2020 season.

In addition to national honors, Noel earned conference recognition, as he was named the ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, splitting the award with Clemson forward Kimarni Smith. Smith also earned a spot on the Top Drawer Team of the Week and was named Player of the Week after scoring and logging an assist in his team’s 2-1 win over then-No. 1 Wake Forest last Tuesday night.

Noel now has four goals and one assist on the season, and his goal total currently leads the team. Ordoñez has one goal and two assists. Next up for Noel, Ordoñez and Pitt is a matchup at Louisville, a team Pitt beat 5-0 in a preseason exhibition game. That game is set to kick off from Dr. Mark and Cindy Lynn Stadium at 7 p.m. ET on Friday.