Top-10 Moments of 2013-14: #9 - Fitting Farewell - Seton Hall University Athletics

July 15, 2014

The 2013-14 year was a momentous one for Seton Hall Athletics as the Pirates made their mark in the first year of a revamped BIG EAST Conference.

From the hardwood to the field, the pitch to the pool or on the course, the was no shortage of memorable moments across all 14 varsity athletic programs as Seton Hall student-athletes continued to honor and further the university's proud athletic tradition.

Over the final two weeks of July, SHUPirates.com in conjunction with College Hunks Hauling Junk will reveal its countdown of the Top-10 moments from the year that was.

Our #9 moment takes us to Owen T. Carroll Field, the scene of countless noteworthy performances that are dotted throughout Seton Hall lore. On one picturesque October afternoon this past fall however, it was the women's soccer team that produced one of the most convincing results in recent memory on a day that saw several decorated team members make the final home appearance of their careers.

#9. Fitting Farewell

Prior to the final home game of 2013, the Seton Hall women's soccer team honored seven student-athletes competing at Owen T. Carroll Field for the last time.

The ceremony read like a listing of the most accomplished players to wear a Pirate uniform since the turn of the century. Included were midfielder Ashley Clarke, owner of the second-most assists in program history, Seton Hall's third all-time leading scorer in forward Katie Ritter and goalkeeping stalwart Jennifer Pettigrew who battled back from an injury that forced her out of the entire 2012 season to continue her rise up a number of the program's record lists.

The trio was joined by Brittney Albrecht, Meghan Hayes, Marie Klemme and Amie Ruhe in a group that combined to make over 400 appearances for The Hall. Together, they had helped fashion some of the most important moments the program has enjoyed in its brief two decades of existence.

Perhaps it was fitting then, that their final appearance within friendly confines would feature an emphatic display of their collective talents; one that resulted in a dominant victory over one of the university's oldest athletic rivals.

Up against Villanova, the Pirates remained scoreless through the first 20 minutes as the game developed a tone defined early on by physicality characteristic of a bygone era in BIG EAST basketball. Once play began to settle, The Hall began to find and exploit pockets of space in the attacking third until, as she so often had, Clarke provided the impetus for the offensive onslaught to come.

Just past the half-hour mark, Clarke controlled a pass from fellow All-BIG EAST honoree Cathy Chukuka, played herself into space and took several more touches before rifling the eventual game-winner inside the left post.

The Hall was up 1-0, but not for long as it would take mere seconds for Ritter to double the advantage.

Less than 20 seconds ticked off the game clock before the Pirates' struck again as off the restart, sophomore defender Melissa Blevins pinched in from her outside back position to stop the Villanova rush with a booming clearance. Her ball fell perfectly for a streaking Ritter to run on to, and after sneaking in behind the VU back line, she found the back of the net for her seventh goal of 2013.

GOAL SCORED BY ASHLEY CLARKE , THEN ANOTHER SCORED BY KATIE RITTER !!!
— SHU Women's Soccer (@SetonHallsoccer) October 20, 2013

Following the flurry that was too quick even for a space limited to 140 characters to keep up with, 30 minutes of game action passed before Ruhe nearly made it three seniors on the scoresheet when she rang one back off the post in the 63^rd minute.

From there, it was freshman Sarah Cortes who ignited a late burst of goals; recording assists on all three of the Pirates' goals over the final 12 minutes. The late surge capped what was the second-most lopsided victory over a conference opponent in program history.

Seton Hall had controlled the run of play, but Pettigrew - who had missed the previous match with a hand injury - had an answer each time she was called upon and left with the 10^th clean sheet of her career.

A lot of superlatives have been tossed around in an effort to describe the impact this group had on the program but in that moment, their moment, no more words were needed.

The final score said it all.