Seton Hall University
Columbia
Geiler's Late PK Lifts MSOC Past Columbia
10/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK - Sophomore midfielder Samuel Geiler (Offenberg, Germany) delivered for the Seton Hall University men's soccer team with a penalty kick in the 87th minute to lift the Pirates past Columbia University on Wednesday night, 1-0.
In a match that saw limited offensive chances for either team, Geiler came up with the most crucial play of the night late in the action. It was fitting Geiler attempted the game-winning PK because it was his work that resulted in a handball in the box with fewer than five minutes remaining in regulation.
After juking past Brennan Branca as he approached the 18, Geiler moved into the area and had a shot attempt deflected off a defender's hand. Geiler lined up the free kick, beating Dylan Castanheira to the right side for his first goal of the season.
With the win, Seton Hall snapped a three-match losing streak and picked up its first road victory of the season. The Pirates will play their first home match since Sept. 23, when they host Xavier University this Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m.
The Hall is now 3-for-3 on penalty kick opportunities this year. Sophomore goalkeeper Julian Spindler (Weiersbach, Germany) posted his career-best fourth shutout of the year, but needed just one save on the night.
The first half was mostly devoid of dangerous scoring chances for either team, but 10 minutes into the action both squads had their strongest early looks at generating some offense.
The Pirates threatened first, when a Geiler cross was deflected across the end line, resulting in a corner on the right side. Geiler's pass found senior Kai Greene (South Orange, N.J.), who centered to Konrad Plewa (Maniowy, Poland), but he could not muster a strong attempt.
Moments later, the Lions nearly took advantage of a corner of their own. Francisco Agrest crossed to Mike Abraham at the near post, where he made solid contact with his head, but directed a shot over the cross bar.
Columbia opened the second half by pressing on the offensive end, but the first good look came from The Hall. Freshman John Philbin (Emmaus, Pa.) found Geiler with a long cross from the right side in the 55th minute, which Geiler headed cleanly far post, but ultimately wide of the net.
It was not until the 69th minute that redshirt senior Victor Manosalvas (Clifton, N.J.) sent the first shot on goal in the game. He nearly scored again 12 minutes later when Kevin Matthews (Ambler, Pa.) dished to him at the six, but his close-range attempt was blocked by a defender.
After falling behind in the 86th, Columbia attempted a late rally, sending its only shot on goal 20 seconds after Geiler's score, a curving attempt from 20-yards away that was handled by Spindler.
With two minutes remaining, Julian Kennedy (Nindorf, Germany) was called for a foul 25 yards out. Antonio Matarazzo attempted the free kick for Columbia, only to see it sail over the cross bar.
