Pirates Fall to St. John's in BIG EAST Championship Quarterfinals - Seton Hall University Athletics
Despite a strong second half, Seton Hall's men soccer team fell 2-0 against St. John's at Benson Stadium in the BIG EAST championship quarterfinals.
QUEENS, N.Y. – Despite a strong second half, Seton Hall's men soccer team fell 2-0 against St. John's at Benson Stadium in the BIG EAST championship quarterfinals.
The Pirates opened the first half exchanging physicals blows with St. John's as both teams began feeling each other out. The Red Storm struck first with a 25th minute goal off of chaotic play in the box that saw one shot being blocked before the rebound was sent past the Pirates' netminder. The Pirates' offensive pressure increased in the second half, outshooting their opposition, but an 84th minute goal from St. John's would put the game out of reach and result in a 2-0 loss for the Pirates and their elimination from the BIG EAST Championship.
With the loss, The Hall moves to 11-6-1 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The beginning stages of this match were befitting of a playoff clash between two rivals. Neither team was able to get in a position to launch a good shot in the first 13 minutes, exchanging fouls and throw-ins in favor of field position. The Pirates held possession for the majority of the time, but only managed one shot during that span.
In the 25th minute, a Red Storm run into the Pirates box by Miguel Diaz broke the tie. Diaz's blocked shot was collected by Julian Jakopovic who struck it past Matias Molina to the far post, putting the Johnnies up 1-0. Within a minute, the Pirates had were on the offensive. Til Kauschke launched a shot from the edge of the box, but it blocked before it could reach the goal.
The Pirates spent the early stages of the second half pressing the Red Storm's defense and finding potential holes. In the 57th minute, the Pirates earned their best chance of the night. Hugo Gerbore trailed behind the play and launched a shot from just outside, but Alec McLachlan made the save for the Red Storm. After that, Jack Kossoudji and Agustin Resch found their own individual chances in the 79th and 81st minute, respectively. However, blocked shots and saves ended those strong scoring opportunities before a second touch could be had.
By the time the final 10 minutes arrived, the Pirates offensive press became dangerous for both the Johnnies and themselves. That danger would come to pass not long after. In the 84th minute, St John's reversed field on a strong Pirates attack with a long pass and began pressuring Matias Molina in goal. Molina managed two saves, but the Johnnies' Thomas Lamaille managed to sneak the third shot by Molina to extend their lead to 2-0.
The Pirates final opportunity came in the 87th minute when Jon Vignir Petturson launched a ball from outside a chaotic box, but it sailed over the crossbar, ending the Pirates final chance of the night. After three more minutes, the final whistle blew, eliminating Seton Hall from the BIG EAST Championship with a 2-0 defeat.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Pirates had three corners to St. John's two.
- Seton Hall had one offsides compared to two for St. John's.
- The Pirates had 11 fouls to the Johnnies' 14.
- Seton Hall had one yellow card to St John's three.
- The Hall outshot the Red Storm in the second half seven-to-five.
- Each team logged two saves.
- Til Kauschke, Jared Smith and Liam Guske are the only players to start every game for the Pirates this season (18 games played).
NEWS & NOTES
- Seton Hall moves to 11-6-1, while St. John's moves to 9-5-5.
- This was the 47th matchup between the two programs, the first of which came in 1979.
- Seton Hall is now 15-27-5 all-time against St John's, with a 3-3-1 record in their last seven matchups.
