Men's Soccer Bounces Georgetown in Overtime, 2-1

WASHINGTON, D.C. Senior Teddy Niziolek (Clifton, N.J.) scored with just over two minutes remaining in the first overtime period to life Seton Hall past Georgetown, 2-1, in men’s soccer action at North Kehoe Field on Wednesday afternoon. Senior John Raus (Stamford, Conn.) assisted on the game-winner after notching the game-tying goal in the second half to help SHU improve to 7-3-0 overall and 5-1-0 in the BIG EAST.

The Pirates scored the game winner seven minutes into overtime when Raus slipped a pass through the defense that found Niziolek at the near post. The midfielder collected the ball 12 yards out and sent it to the upper corner to secure the comeback win for Seton Hall. The goal by Niziolek made up for a near-miss in the 81^st minute when he had a shot hit the post.

Georgetown took the lead in the 56^th minute when Alex Pangraze got the ball off a corner kick from Corey Zeller and sent a rocket past freshman Paul McHenry (Ephrata, Pa.). McHenry redeemed himself with 11:45 remaining when he stifled a breakaway attempt from Ricky Schramm that would have given GU a healthy advantage. As it was, the Pirates took advantage and equalized in the 80^th minute after Raus shook free of a couple defenders on the left side and slipped a shot inside the near post to make it 1-1.

McHenry made four saves in the win and helped SHU keep pace in the BIG EAST Blue Division. Joe Devine made five saves for Georgetown, including a stop in the first half when he was caught off his line, but scrambled to stop a rebound attempt on a shot from Eliseo Giusfredi.

The win marked the first time SHU has rallied from a deficit to claim a victory since Oct. 18, 2005, a span of six games. It also marked SHU’s first overtime win since a 1-0 against the Hoyas on Nov. 12, 2004, in the BIG EAST Semifinals, a span of seven overtime games, during which SHU went 0-3-4.

The Pirates will host 15^th-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, Sept. 30, in a Noon kickoff at Lubetkin Field on the campus of NJIT in Newark, N.J.

SCORING SUMMARY

                                          1    2    OT      F

Seton Hall (7-3-0, 5-1-0)        0    1    1    -- 2

Georgetown (3-7-0, 2-4-0)     0    1    0    -- 1

55:42             GU          A. Pangraze (1) (C. Zeller)

79:35             SHU        J. Raus (5) (unassisted)

97:34             SHU        T. Niziolek (3) (J. Raus)

OFFICIAL STAT SUMMARY

Shots:  SHU 15; GU 18.

Corner Kicks:  SHU 7; GU 11.

Saves:  SHU 4 (McHenry 4); GU 5 (Devine 5)