Seton Hall University
2-11-2 (1-5-0BE)
Butler
11-5-1 (4-2-0BE)
Team Stats
KASHIMOTO, Serina (5)
Direct free kick from 20 yds around wall
63:33
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Stout Defense Not Enough for Hall vs. Butler
10/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall women's soccer team delivered one of its finest defensive performances of the season against visiting Butler on Sunday afternoon but a second half goal off a direct free kick proved to be the difference in a 1-0 Bulldogs victory.
The Hall (2-11-2, 1-5-0 BIG EAST) worked the best opportunities to open the scoring in the early going as senior Amanda Gulli (Toms River, N.J.) tested Butler Keeper Madison Card in the sixth minute and later used a clever back heel to combine with freshman Eva Gonzalez (Mesquite, Texas) in the area. Gonzalez ran on and beat Card with her attempt at goal only to see it ring back off the crossbar.
The Pirate defense stood resolute against a potent Butler attack for much of the afternoon, severely limiting the Bulldogs' looks at goal in the run of play. In the 64th minute however, First Team All-BIG EAST honoree Serina Kashimoto unleashed a direct free kick from just outside the area that found its way past the wall and Seton Hall keeper Illissa Blackshear (West Orange, N.J.).
The score gave Butler (11-5-1, 4-2-0 BIG EAST) its first-ever win in South Orange as the Bulldogs walked away with their second consecutive 1-0 win after getting past Georgetown last week at home.
Turning Point
In what was a physical match all afternoon, Butler was awarded the decisive free kick on a foul called just outside the Seton Hall area
Goals
BU - 64th minute - Kashimoto (5) - Direct free kick from 20 yards; bent around wall and into left side of net
Inside The Numbers
- The Hall limited Butler, the league-leader in shots per game entering the day, to eight attempts and just one on goal. Both are season-lows for a Seton Hall opponent and the total was more than seven shots under the Bulldogs average (15.8 shots/game) entering the afternoon
- The 10th minute shot represented the second time in the last three home games that Gonzalez has been denied her first collegiate goal by the crossbar
- The backline of Cathy Chukuka (Marlboro, N.J.), Emily Hansinger (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and D'Yonna Riley (Washingtonville, N.Y.) kept the potent duo of Halle Stelbasky and Sophia Maccagnone entirely off the scoresheet. The two carried 32 combined points into the match and it was only the third time in 17 outings to this point in the season that neither recorded a point.
- The result represented the fifth-straight Seton Hall contest that has been decided by one goal - all of which have come in conference play. Overall, nine of The Hall's last 10 games have been decided by one goal or less
- The 1-0 setback is the second in the last four matches for The Hall that came as a result of a free kick goal (at DePaul, 10/4)
- The Pirates have conceded one goal or less in four of their last five home matches
- SHU was credited with three blocked shots and successfully defended seven corners; including three in 77-second span inside the 52nd and 53rd minutes
News & Notes
- Blackshear returned to action after being forced out of the conclusion of the previous home match against Creighton (10/8) as well as an away game at Xavier (10/11) due to injury. The junior has allowed one goal or less in five of her seven appearances this season
- Gonzalez will return to international duty and once again join the Mexico U20 side in advance of the CONCACAF Tournament scheduled to take place from December 3-13 in Honduras
- As part of the afternoon, the Pirates donned their pink Jerseys in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Hall also honored Mary Jennings, a former women's soccer student-athlete who lost her battle with cancer in 2006. A College of Education student, the scholarship bearing Jennings' name is annually awarded to "a Seton Hall University student who represents the team spirit and passion for education Mary Jennings exhibited."
- To learn more about and support the Mary Jennings Memorial Scholarship, visit www.bayley.shu.edu/mary-jennings-memorial-scholarship
Up Next
The Pirates will play their last regular season road match on Thursday, October 22 when they travel to take on Georgetown in the nation's capital. Kick-off is slated for 3:00 p.m.
