Seton Hall University
Butler
Men's Soccer Falls to No. 21 Butler, 2-0
10/12/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 12, 2013
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall University men's soccer team fell to No. 21 Butler University, 2-0, in the first ever meeting between the Pirates and their new BIG EAST foe on Saturday afternoon at Owen T. Carroll Field.
The contest was evenly matched from the beginning, with both squads looking at quality scoring opportunities throughout the afternoon but it was the Bulldogs that were able to capitalize on a couple of chances and come away with a win.
Butler (9-3-1, 3-1-0) took a 1-0 lead into the half thanks to a Vincent Mitchell score in the 40th minute. Bulldog midfielder A.R. Smith sprinted up the right side of the field and sent a low cross toward Mitchell in the middle of the area. Smith's pass initially deflected off an SHU defender, but spun over to Mitchell who quickly redirected a shot on frame and past keeper Julian Spindler (Weiersbach, Germany).
The outcome of the game could be best summed up by a pair of free kicks coming five minutes apart with fewer than 20 minutes to play. Still trailing 1-0 the Pirates (4-6-2, 1-3-0) were unable to convert on their best look of the day and five minute later Butler extended its lead to 2-0.
Senior forward George Velasquez (Union City, N.J.) was fouled 22-yards out from net trying to chase a through ball into the Butler area, resulting in a set piece for Seton Hall in the middle of the field.
Junior midfielder Kai Greene (South Orange, N.J.) attempted the free kick for the Pirates and curved an expertly placed shot around the wall of defenders and toward the post, but Jon Dawson made a diving save to his left to keep the ball in play and the rebound was cleared away but a Bulldog defender.
Five minutes later the Pirates were whistled for a foul a little over 25-yards away from their own net. Zach Steinberger attempted the free kick for Butler and he lined a shot inside in the post to successfully convert and give his team a 2-0 lead.
Seton Hall finished the game with 12-10 advantage in shot attempts, and the Pirates put five shots on net, compared to just three for the visiting Bulldogs.
There was no shortage of quality scoring opportunities for SHU throughout the game. In the 15th minute junior midfielder Bolu Akinyode (Lagos, Nigeria) created a turnover in the middle of the field and made a pass out to Velasquez on the left side. He ripped a shot toward the goal but it bounced off the near post and out of play.
With less than 20 minutes remaining in the first half Velasquez nearly combined with senior midfielder Max Garcia (Jersey City, N.J.) as he carried the ball through the middle of the field before flicking a pass out to Garcia on the right side. Garcia quickly controlled and blasted a shot from the top of the box just over the crossbar.
Still trailing 1-0 in the 60th minute senior John Gurel (Istanbul, Turkey) appeared as if he was going to come up with the equalizer for the Pirates, but he was denied by Dawson on a one-on-one opportunity.
Gurel knocked down a long pass with his chest and controlled the ball while fending off David Goldsmith on his right side. The result was a play behind the Bulldog defense and unsatisfied with the first angle, Gurel made a cut back toward the center of sent a low shot on net, but Dawson hit the turf and made the stop.
Seton Hall will continue its four-game home stand when it hosts NJIT in the final non-conference game of the season on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Owen T. Carroll Field. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
