Pitt Men's Soccer Program Continues Legacy of Producing Professional Players: Gilman and Soerensen Selected in MLS SuperDraft

Pitt Men's Soccer Program Continues Legacy of Producing Professional Players: Gilman and Soerensen Selected in MLS SuperDraft

Pitt men's soccer program continues its tradition of producing professional players, with two members, Jackson Gilman and Niklas Soerensen, being selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Gilman, a former Philadelphia Union Academy standout, was picked by Toronto FC, while Soerensen was chosen by Real Salt Lake. Gilman was a key starter for Pitt's backline throughout his four seasons, while Soerensen made significant contributions in his sophomore and freshman seasons, earning ACC All-Freshman team honors in 2024.

Together, Gilman and Soerensen played crucial roles in Pitt's defensive success, helping the team achieve clean sheets and low goals against average (GAA) in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Gilman will join former Pitt standout Michael Sullivan at Toronto FC, where Sullivan served as a captain with Toronto FC II's MLS Next Squad in his first professional season. Pitt has a strong track record of players being selected in the SuperDraft under Head Coach Jay Vidovich, with selections in eight of the past nine years.

For more details on the SuperDraft and coverage, visit MLSsoccer.com and MLS social media channels. Pitt players drafted under Coach Vidovich in previous years include Pol Planellas, Javi Perez, Edward Kizza, Arturo Ordoñez, Jasper Löeffelsend, Bertin Jacquesson, Valentin Noel, Jackson Walti, Filip Mirkovic, and Michael Sullivan. The recent selections of Gilman and Soerensen add to Pitt's legacy of producing top talent for the professional ranks.