Seton Hall University
Villanova
Pirates Bounce Back with 2-1 Win over Villanova
10/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 9, 2013
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall University men's soccer team concluded an incredible 45-second sequence late in the second half with a go-ahead goal off the head of senior Max Garcia (Jersey City, N.J.) to bounce back in a big way and pick up a 2-1 victory over BIG EAST rival Villanova University on Wednesday night at Owen T. Carroll Field.
The Pirates, who picked up their first conference victory of the year with the win, were tied with Villanova with less than 10 minutes to play in the second half when Wildcat forward Aaron Dennis took advantage of a defensive miscue to make an unimpeded break on net from the left side of the pitch.
With the entire Seton Hall team in pursuit Dennis managed to keep a step ahead, slowing only to ready a shot on net just before he crossed into the goal box. While the stats may not show it, Seton Hall freshman goalkeeper Julian Spindler (Weiersbach, Germany) has been oftentimes spectacular in net for the Pirates this season, and his most inspired play of the year was cutting down the angle on Dennis' shot attempt and making a save to prevent a goal that would have given the Wildcats the lead.
The rebound found the foot of another Wildcat, but Dylan Renna's shot just seconds later could not get past a sprawling Spindler, who finished with four saves on the night. Oscar Umar took a third-straight shot, only this time the Pirate defense deflected it away from net.
The ensuing counter in the other direction resulted in what proved to be the game-winner fewer than 30 seconds after the Villanova surge came up empty. Freshman midfielder Samuel Geiler (Offenburg, Germany) started the play down the left side and was ultimately pinned near the end line by a Villanova defensive back.
Geiler slipped past his man and floated a pass towards Garcia at the far post. The attempt appeared to almost curve over the crossbar and back into play, where Garcia was waiting to head it past Villanova keeper Andrew Weakly.
It was Garcia's fifth-career game-winner, but his first of the season, his fourth goal of the year and his third over the past four games. Geiler's assist was his second of the night; he also assisted junior Bolu Akinyode's (Lagos, Nigeria) score in the 35th minute, and his third of the season, which ranks second on the team.
The aforementioned Akinyode goal started off the left foot of Geiler, as he served a free kick from near the corner flag on the right side into the middle of the area. Junior Kai Greene (South Orange, N.J.) settled the pass in front of the net but was unable to control and Akinyode swooped in to easily bury a shot in the back of the net.
The score was the first of the season for Akinyode and the second of his career while Greene notched his fourth-career assist.
Seton Hall opened the game by surviving an early charge from Villanova that saw the Wildcats fire three shots over the first eight minutes of action. From that point the Pirates controlled the offensive chances, capitalizing with Akinyode's goal 10 minutes before the half and they had an abundance of quality looks to begin the second half.
Firing six shots, two on net, in a 16 minute span to open the second period, Seton Hall had Villanova back on its heels. Weakly knocked down a powerful line drive shot attempt from Greene in the 56th minute and then made a save on a Victor Manosalvas (Clifton, N.J.) close range attempt in the 61st minute.
However, just six minutes later the Wildcats strung together a quality play to knot the game as Sean Sheridan served a precise ball in the run of play to Colton Bryant in front of the Seton hall net that he headed past Spindler and directly on frame.
Seton Hall is now 3-1-1 on its home field this season and the Pirates are 2-1-2 when netting the first goal of a game. SHU improved to 19-11 all-time against Villanova, and avenged a 3-1 loss to the Wildcats in the first round of last year's BIG EAST Tournament.
The Pirates will play the second match of a four-game home stand on Saturday, Oct. 12, when they host the No. 21 Butler University Bulldogs for the first time in program history. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
