Pirates Meet LIU-Brooklyn in Non-Conference Finale
9/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Riding a three-match unbeaten streak, the Seton Hall women's soccer team will head into its non-conference finale looking to pick up its first home win of the season when LIU-Brooklyn visits Owen T. Carroll Field on Friday.
The Pirates (2-4-2) have rattled off three-consecutive shutouts to help rebound from a four-game losing streak that preceded the current run of positive results. Coming off a 0-0 draw against Columbia at home on Monday, The Hall brings the stoutest defensive unit in the BIG EAST into the matchup with the Blackbirds and will aim for its third victory under first-year head coach Rick Stainton.
Sophomore goalkeeper Illissa Blackshear (West Orange, N.J.) was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll prior to the contest with the Lions and went on to support her selection with a six-save performance that kept Columbia off the board. Over the last three outings, Blackshear has stopped all 16 shots she has faced - raising her save percentage to .906, a mark that is the best in the league and ranks 11th nationally.
Junior co-captain Emily Hansinger (Mount Laurel, N.J.) has been a lynchpin in the defensive efforts that have elevated the Pirates to lofty team rankings as well while on the attack junior Amanda Gulli (Toms River, N.J.) and freshman Jackie Saint John (Ridgefield, N.J.) have developed into a dangerous tandem that combined for 16 shot attempts against Army and Columbia, linking up on the game-winning score at West Point as well.
As a team, Seton Hall boasts a conference-leading 0.58 goals against average that ranks among the top-40 teams in the nation. For the season, the Pirates have allowed the fewest goals in the conference - just five in eight matches - a mark that is one less than an unbeaten Creighton squad that currently occupies first-place in the league standings.
An extended shutout streak that has spanned four matches and reached 361 total minutes has lowered Blackshear's individual goals against average to a BIG EAST-best 0.49 that is also 26th among all qualifying Division I goalkeepers.
Seton Hall's current unbeaten run trails only Creighton (seven) and #20/#18 DePaul (eight) in terms of longest active streaks within the conference and the Pirates will look to extend the stretch against an LIU-Brooklyn side that has achieved a high level of success in recent years.
The Blackbirds (0-7-0) have dropped their first seven decisions under new head coach Jim Robbins but are one year removed from their fourth-consecutive trip to the Northeast Conference title match, a stretch in which the team secured two NCAA Tournament berths.
LIU-Brooklyn features its own standout in goal as much like Blackshear, UConn transfer Jessica Montrose has shone between the posts in her first year as the starter. Montrose has proven the ability to keep her side in contention, making at least eight saves in each of the last three matches; all of which were one-goal losses.
As the Seton Hall attack looks to build momentum heading into conference play however, the Pirates will look to exert control at home against a Blackbirds side that holds a -17 goal differential and averages an NEC-low 5.29 attempts at goal per game.
Friday will be Youth Soccer Night at Owen T. Carroll Field for the women's soccer match which is slated to kick-off at 7:00 p.m. The contest will follow a men's soccer matchup with #18 George Mason.
