Seton Hall University
Providence
WSOC's Streak Halted in BIG EAST Opener
9/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - A pair of early goals from Catherine Zimmerman and Courtney Maguire proved to be the difference between the Seton Hall women's soccer team and hosts Providence on Thursday as the Friars halted the Pirates four-match unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory in what was the BIG EAST opener for both teams.
The Hall (3-5-2, 0-1-0) entered the night having allowed just one goal in its last four matches - a stretch that included two victories and two draws - but Zimmerman and Maguire struck inside the first five minutes to give Providence the advantage from the outset. The result marked just the second time this season that Seton Hall has yielded more than one goal in a match this season.
The eventual game-winner came off the foot of the Friars' leading scorer Zimmerman who collected a cross from teammate Lauren Elia in the 3rd minute and beat Seton Hall keeper Illissa Blackshear (West Orange, N.J.) for her fifth goal of the campaign.
A preseason All-BIG EAST honoree, Zimmerman provided the final pass that led to the second strike of the evening, finding Courtney Maguire who doubled the Providence lead from in close less than two minutes after the scoring had been opened.
Despite the initial charge, The Hall would not allow another shot on goal from the Friars for the remainder of the first half. Freshman Andrea Palermo (Caledon, Ontario) forced Princeton keeper Kristyn Shea into action with a try in the 27th minute and Frankie Maier (Oradell, N.J.) tested Shea again two minutes prior to the break but the Pirates were kept off the board.
Sophomore Sarah Fiorino (Glen Rock, N.J.) and senior Mikayla Hickey (Salem, N.H.) landed shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of the second period but Shea once again came up with the answer each time.
Blackshear rebounded to total four stops in the final frame to hold the gap at two but Shea denied one final effort from Maier in the last minute to seal the win for Providence (5-3-2, 1-0-0) and extend the side's winning streak to four.
Maier, Fiorino and Hickey tied for the team-lead with two shots in the match as the Pirates landed five attempts on net; just one fewer than the Friars.
Seton Hall will return to action on Sunday, September 28 when the Pirates will make their first-ever trip to Butler to face the Bulldogs. Start-time is set for 1:00 p.m.
Last fall, the Pirates downed a visiting Butler squad that entered the matchup ranked #25, 3-1, in what was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
