Program Record Three Panthers Selected In 2023 MLS SuperDraft

PITTSBURGH – For the first time in program history, the Pitt men’s soccer program saw three student-athletes selected in the 2023 Major League Soccer SuperDraft Wednesday evening. Pitt saw a pair of players taken in the First Round as junior Bertin Jacquesson was taken 16^th overall by Real Salt Lake and senior Valentin Noel was taken 20^th overall by Austin FC. FIfth-year captain Jackson Walti was taken in the Second Round at 56^th overall by Austin FC.
 
Jacquesson becomes the highest draft pick in Pitt program history. The duo of Jacquesson and Noel becomes the first duo at Pitt in any sport to go inside the top-20 since Bill Fralic and Chris Doleman were selected No. 2 and No. 4 overall in the 1985 NFL Draft.
 
Pitt has now seen multiple players selected in back-to-back drafts for the first time in program history. Since head coach Jay Vidovich took over the program seven years ago, the Panthers have seen a total of eight student-athletes drafted after not seeing any taken prior to Vidovich’s hiring.
 

Amazing day to be a Panther ????

? Program record three draftees

? First Pitt program since football in 1985 to have two top-20 picks in the same draft#H2P pic.twitter.com/xHVDhgCP1X

— Pitt Men’s Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) December 22, 2022

 
A native of Lorrez-Le-Bocage, France, Jacquesson concludes his prolific Pitt career with 19 goals, 23 assists and 61 points across 57 matches. His 23 career assists are second in program history while his 61 career points ranks seventh in program history. Known for his speed and agility, Jacquesson has helped Pitt become one of the best programs in the nation over his career as he has helped the Panthers earn their first two College Cup trips in program history (2020, 2022).
 
This past season, Jacquesson battled through some injuries to earn Second Team All-ACC honors as he ranked second on the squad with eight goals, five assists and 21 points on a team-high 61 shots. He netted three game-winning goals including the most memorable of his collegiate career as he ripped home a shot into the upper left corner down a man in the 78^th minute of the NCAA Tournament match at #1 Kentucky.
 
As a sophomore, Jacquesson earned Second Team All-ACC honors after netting seven goals, a career-high 11 assists and 25 points for the Panthers. His 11 assists are the second most in a…