Pitt's Bertin Jacquesson and Arturo Ordoñez earn ACC Player of the Week honors

The fourth-ranked Pitt men’s soccer team defeated fifth-ranked Notre Dame 3-1 in its season opener on Saturday night, and on Monday, two Pitt players were recognized by the ACC for their contributions to the winning effort as ACC Players of the Week.

Pitt defender Arturo Ordoñez took home ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors after playing a key role on a Pitt defense that held Notre Dame to just five shots. Two of those shots were on goal, but the only serious threat all night came off the foot of Notre Dame’s Michael Pellegrino, who one-timed a ball as it bounced out of the box following a corner kick. That went in for the only Irish goal of the night, but otherwise, Notre Dame was stifled.

Pitt forward Bertin Jacquesson split Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors with Calvin Harris of Wake Forest. In his debut, the freshman out of France set up Alexander Dexter’s 11th-minute goal that put Pitt up 1-0. He also came up with a goal of his own in the 73rd minute that gave Pitt a 3-1 advantage and put the game away for the Panthers.

Jacquesson’s performance was a welcome surprise, as his arrival in Pittsburgh was largely unheralded. His big game also came at a time of need for Pitt, as star forward Edward Kizza had just parted ways with the team, leaving the Panthers with questions to answer about their ability to finish in the attacking third.

Now, thanks in part to Jacquesson, who paired well with Dexter at the head of the Pitt attack, it’s clear the Panthers have the talent to come up with goals. The only question is if they have the consistency to keep up with the best teams in the nation. That will be the task at hand for Pitt as it navigates its schedule this season.