Seton Hall will battle College of Charleston and Furman this weekend
Julian Spindler set a program-record with seven shutouts in 2014
Aug. 26, 2015
Match Notes (PDF) || 2015 Season Prospectus/Record Book
WATCH (Friday only) || LIVE STATS
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Seton Hall men’s soccer team is set to open its 77th campaign when it kicks off the 2015 regular season at the Nike/Aaron Olitsky Memorial Soccer Classic in Charleston this weekend. The Pirates square off with host College of Charleston on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. before closing the tournament with a 12 p.m. kick-off against Furman on Sunday, Aug. 30.
The Pirates under fourth-year head coach Gerson Echeverry welcome 15 newcomers to the fray this year on a youth-packed roster that features eight upperclassmen along with 20 freshmen and sophomores. SHU is looking to build off a solid finish to the 2014 campaign which saw a win over No. 3 Georgetown, a draw with No. 24 Marquette and a shutout at rival St. John’s all among the final five contests of the season.
The Hall has never faced either Charleston or Furman in program history. The Pirates are 1-1-1 in season openers under Echeverry, last picking up a victory in the 2013 season with a 1-0 victory over Rhode Island. All-time, Seton Hall is 34-34-8 in season openers with a 17-10-3 record since joining the BIG EAST for men’s soccer in 1985.
See below for a position-by-position breakdown of the 2015 Pirates.
GOALKEEPERS (2 returning, 2 newcomers)
Among the top returners for The Hall is junior goalkeeper Julian Spindler (Weiserbach, Germany), back after a record-setting sophomore campaign. In 2014 Spindler tied a program-best with seven shutouts, also holding a .730 save percentage and a 1.49 GAA. The netminder currently ranks sixth in program history with nine career clean sheets. Junior Brandon Barnes (Cary, Ill.) also returns as a solid veteran presence.
Joining the ranks of The Hall keepers are sophomore Chris Martinez (Englewood, N.J.) and freshman Peyton Elder (Cary, N.C.). Martinez joins the Pirates after posting a 1.00 GAA in three appearances for Montclair State a year ago.
DEFENDERS (5 returning, 4 newcomers)
Leading the way in the back four is 2014 BIG EAST All-Rookie selection John Philbin (Emmaus, Pa.), who was one of four Pirates to tally a goal during the exhibition slate. Philbin made 12 starts last season and logged 896 total minutes. Also back is junior Shawn Morrison (York, Pa.), who made 10 starts in 2014 and has notched three career assists.
Lukas Pangonis (Kaunas, Lithuania) looks to build off a strong freshman campaign that saw him log over 1,000 minutes a season ago, while senior Julian Kennedy (Nindorf, Germany) has 42 career starts under his belt. Sophomore Nick Najera (Laguna Hills, Calif.) looks for his first official playing time in 2015 after scoring a goal in an exhibition vs. Fordham on Aug. 20.
Joining the defensive corps this season are freshmen Nathan Boatswain (Ontario, Canada), Corey Burkhardt (Palmyra, Pa.) and Brandon Sabinsky (Belle Mead, N.J.) along with sophomore transfer Noah Teperow (Lowell, Mass.). All four saw time in exhibition contests and will challenge for playing time early.
MIDFIELDERS (4 returning, 6 newcomers)
In the middle of the park, junior Samuel Geiler (Offenberg, Germany) provides a veteran presence and is tops among all returners with a 9-9-27 career scoring line. Geiler tallied eight times in a BIG EAST All-Rookie campaign in 2013 and led the squad with five assists in 2014. He topped all Pirates with three points on a goal and an assist during the exhibition slate.
Patrick Burd (Hillsborough, N.J.) made 12 starts in 13 appearances as a freshman a season ago and scored a goal against No. 11 Creighton on Oct. 4. Senior Eric Lagg (Lafayette, N.J.) has played in 43 career contests and could also see time up top in 2015, while sophomore Mario Prata (Dracut, Mass.) showed promise in six appearances a season ago.
Coming on to solidify the midfield are sophomores Andres Arcila (Cartagena, Colombia), Gaspar Jean-Baptiste (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and Chris Salazar (Edison, N.J.) along with freshmen Spencer Burkhardt (Palmyra, Pa.), Marcos Estebaranz Santos (Madrid, Spain) and Alex Pozesky (Columbia, Pa.).
FORWARDS (2 returning, 3 newcomers)
Up top, redshirt senior Jeremy Witherspoon (South Orange, N.J.) and redshirt junior Danny Bartok (Union, N.J.) provide veteran experience and a scoring touch. Witherspoon tallied a game-winner for the Pirates in an exhibition vs. Saint Peter’s on Aug. 23, while Bartok found the back of the net twice in the 2013 season.
Freshmen Christian Buitrago (Parisppany, N.J.), Lorant Lettner (Budapest, Hungary) and Burak Ozdemir (Sewell, N.J.) join the fray this year with a wealth of scoring experience in their respective prep careers.
Following the tournament in Charleston, The Hall opens the 2015 home schedule on Friday, Sept. 4 to welcome Rider at 7 p.m. For live updates throughout the weekend and the season, be sure to follow @SHUMSOC on Twitter.
Pirate Men's Soccer Home
Julian Spindler set a program-record with seven shutouts in 2014
Aug. 26, 2015
Match Notes (PDF) || 2015 Season Prospectus/Record Book
WATCH (Friday only) || LIVE STATS
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Seton Hall men’s soccer team is set to open its 77th campaign when it kicks off the 2015 regular season at the Nike/Aaron Olitsky Memorial Soccer Classic in Charleston this weekend. The Pirates square off with host College of Charleston on Friday, Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. before closing the tournament with a 12 p.m. kick-off against Furman on Sunday, Aug. 30.
The Pirates under fourth-year head coach Gerson Echeverry welcome 15 newcomers to the fray this year on a youth-packed roster that features eight upperclassmen along with 20 freshmen and sophomores. SHU is looking to build off a solid finish to the 2014 campaign which saw a win over No. 3 Georgetown, a draw with No. 24 Marquette and a shutout at rival St. John’s all among the final five contests of the season.
The Hall has never faced either Charleston or Furman in program history. The Pirates are 1-1-1 in season openers under Echeverry, last picking up a victory in the 2013 season with a 1-0 victory over Rhode Island. All-time, Seton Hall is 34-34-8 in season openers with a 17-10-3 record since joining the BIG EAST for men’s soccer in 1985.
See below for a position-by-position breakdown of the 2015 Pirates.
GOALKEEPERS (2 returning, 2 newcomers)
Among the top returners for The Hall is junior goalkeeper Julian Spindler (Weiserbach, Germany), back after a record-setting sophomore campaign. In 2014 Spindler tied a program-best with seven shutouts, also holding a .730 save percentage and a 1.49 GAA. The netminder currently ranks sixth in program history with nine career clean sheets. Junior Brandon Barnes (Cary, Ill.) also returns as a solid veteran presence.
Joining the ranks of The Hall keepers are sophomore Chris Martinez (Englewood, N.J.) and freshman Peyton Elder (Cary, N.C.). Martinez joins the Pirates after posting a 1.00 GAA in three appearances for Montclair State a year ago.
DEFENDERS (5 returning, 4 newcomers)
Leading the way in the back four is 2014 BIG EAST All-Rookie selection John Philbin (Emmaus, Pa.), who was one of four Pirates to tally a goal during the exhibition slate. Philbin made 12 starts last season and logged 896 total minutes. Also back is junior Shawn Morrison (York, Pa.), who made 10 starts in 2014 and has notched three career assists.
Lukas Pangonis (Kaunas, Lithuania) looks to build off a strong freshman campaign that saw him log over 1,000 minutes a season ago, while senior Julian Kennedy (Nindorf, Germany) has 42 career starts under his belt. Sophomore Nick Najera (Laguna Hills, Calif.) looks for his first official playing time in 2015 after scoring a goal in an exhibition vs. Fordham on Aug. 20.
Joining the defensive corps this season are freshmen Nathan Boatswain (Ontario, Canada), Corey Burkhardt (Palmyra, Pa.) and Brandon Sabinsky (Belle Mead, N.J.) along with sophomore transfer Noah Teperow (Lowell, Mass.). All four saw time in exhibition contests and will challenge for playing time early.
MIDFIELDERS (4 returning, 6 newcomers)
In the middle of the park, junior Samuel Geiler (Offenberg, Germany) provides a veteran presence and is tops among all returners with a 9-9-27 career scoring line. Geiler tallied eight times in a BIG EAST All-Rookie campaign in 2013 and led the squad with five assists in 2014. He topped all Pirates with three points on a goal and an assist during the exhibition slate.
Patrick Burd (Hillsborough, N.J.) made 12 starts in 13 appearances as a freshman a season ago and scored a goal against No. 11 Creighton on Oct. 4. Senior Eric Lagg (Lafayette, N.J.) has played in 43 career contests and could also see time up top in 2015, while sophomore Mario Prata (Dracut, Mass.) showed promise in six appearances a season ago.
Coming on to solidify the midfield are sophomores Andres Arcila (Cartagena, Colombia), Gaspar Jean-Baptiste (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and Chris Salazar (Edison, N.J.) along with freshmen Spencer Burkhardt (Palmyra, Pa.), Marcos Estebaranz Santos (Madrid, Spain) and Alex Pozesky (Columbia, Pa.).
FORWARDS (2 returning, 3 newcomers)
Up top, redshirt senior Jeremy Witherspoon (South Orange, N.J.) and redshirt junior Danny Bartok (Union, N.J.) provide veteran experience and a scoring touch. Witherspoon tallied a game-winner for the Pirates in an exhibition vs. Saint Peter’s on Aug. 23, while Bartok found the back of the net twice in the 2013 season.
Freshmen Christian Buitrago (Parisppany, N.J.), Lorant Lettner (Budapest, Hungary) and Burak Ozdemir (Sewell, N.J.) join the fray this year with a wealth of scoring experience in their respective prep careers.
Following the tournament in Charleston, The Hall opens the 2015 home schedule on Friday, Sept. 4 to welcome Rider at 7 p.m. For live updates throughout the weekend and the season, be sure to follow @SHUMSOC on Twitter.
Pirate Men's Soccer Home
