Women's Soccer Closes Regular Season Ranked Ninth in Region
10/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall women's soccer team has earned a spot in the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) Northeast Region Rankings for the fourth time this season.
The Pirates are tied for ninth in the latest rankings with rival Rutgers, making their fourth appearance in the polls this season after ending a 13-year drought.
The Hall (8-7-3, 4-6-1) clinched its first BIG EAST Tournament home game since 1998 by earning a 2-2 draw at Rutgers on Friday to secure fourth place in the National Division.
SHU struck first against the Scarlet Knights when midfielders Ashley Clarke (Paramus, N.J.) and Taylor Wilson (Rahway, N.J.) combined to find Stephanie Soma (Franklin, Mass.) in the 49th minute. Soma headed the Wilson delivery into the back of the net for her fourth goal of the season.
After Rutgers drew level, Wilson again provided the assist, her team-leading sixth of the season when freshman Kristina Meier (Paramus, N.J.) found the back of the net off a corner kick in the 73rd minute. The goal was the first of Meier's career. An equalizer would come from Rutgers' Jasmine Edwards just a minute later but Seton Hall held on to earn the draw and stay ahead of RU in the standings.
Seton Hall will begin their championship bid against St. John's on Thursday, October 27th at Owen T. Carroll Field. St. John's (9-8-1, 5-6-1) finished fifth in the BIG EAST American Division and defeated the Pirates 2-1 in their only meeting this season. Kick-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.
NSCAA Northeast Region Rankings Oct. 25
| Rank | School | W-L-T |
| 1 | Marquette | 17-2-0 |
| 2 | West Virginia | 14-4-0 |
| 3 | Boston University | 16-2-1 |
| 4 | Louisville | 10-5-3 |
| 5 | Georgetown | 14-5-0 |
| 6 | Notre Dame | 9-6-3 |
| 7 | Hartford | 13-1-3 |
| 8 | Syracuse | 7-7-3 |
| 9 | SETON HALL | 8-7-3 |
| 9 | Rutgers | 8-7-3 |
| 10 | St. Francis (PA) | 11-5-1 |
