Pirates Secure Spot in BIG EAST Playoffs With Victory over Xavier - Seton Hall University Athletics
A penalty kick conversion from Til Kauschke proved to be the difference in Seton Hall's men soccer team's playoff-clinching 1-0 victory over Xavier in Cincin...
Men's Soccer vs Xavier on 10/26/2024 - Box Score - Seton Hall University Athletics
The official box score of Men's Soccer vs Xavier on 10/26/2024
Pirates clinch spot in BIG EAST Championship Playoffs, Secure first 10-win season since 2005
CINCINNATI, OH. – A penalty kick conversion from Til Kauschke proved to be the difference in Seton Hall's men soccer team's 1-0 victory over Xavier in Cincinnati. With the victory, the Pirates secured a spot in the BIG EAST Championship Playoffs and their first 10-win regular season since 2005.
The Pirates came out of the gate in this road matchup searching for a goal, nearly finding one in the sixth minute. The Pirates were offered a chance at redemption in the 39th minute when a handball in the box served the Pirates an opportunity to take the lead on a penalty kick. Despite Xavier pressing for the equalizer over the remaining 50 minutes, the Pirates defense and goalkeeper Matias Molina sat on the head and secured the 1-0 victory.
With the win, The Hall moves to 10-4-1 on the season and 3-3-1 in-conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pirates put pressure on Xavier early in the game with a strong offensive press. Freshman Til Kauschke launched a shot from the top of the box in the 6th minute that barely clanged off the crossbar and kept the game scoreless. Kauschke would not be denied however, as in the 39th minute he converted a penalty kick caused by a Musketeer handball to put the Pirates up 1-0.
In the second half, Seton Hall and Xavier exchanged offensive pressure throughout the half. Then in the 74th minute, the Pirates' Agustin Resch nearly scored a second for the Pirates goal off a corner kick. However, the Musketeers headed the ball off on the goal line, quashing a strong Pirates chance.
In the final 10 minutes, Seton Hall goalkeeper Matias Molina faced immense pressure from a Xavier side that was seeking to keep their season alive. However, strong goal keeping from Molina and great defending from the Pirates' elite backline secured the 1-0 victory and three massive points.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Til Kauschkescored his third goal of the season
- This was the Pirates third penalty kick goal of the season.
- Matias Molina registered two saves, pushing his season total to 21.
- Molina also registered his fourth clean sheet of the season.
- The Pirates had four shots on goal to the Musketeers' two.
- Liam Guske, Jared Smith, Til Kauschke and Jon Vignir Pétursson have started every game for the Pirates.
NEWS & NOTES
- Seton Hall moves to 10-4-1, while Xavier moves to 4-7-5.
- The Hall now moves to 3-3-1 on BIG EAST play.
- This is Seton Hall's first 10-win regular season since 2005.
- This is the four BIG EAST Championship playoff appearance in five years.
- This was the 10th matchup between the two programs, the first of which came in 1979.
- Seton Hall is now 2-7-1 all-time against Xavier, with the Pirates registering their first win against the Musketeers since 2017.
Seton Hall will return to action on Tuesday when the Pirates travel to Princeton, New Jersey, to take on the Princeton Tigers. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
