Seton Hall University
2-14-2 (1-8-0BE)
Villanova
2-16-0 (1-8-0BE)
Team Stats
KUEFLER, Emily (2)
Sent in after scrum in middle of six-yar
9:46
CAMASSA, Christina (2)
Assisted By: VOCELKA, Amanda
Lead pass into box slotted low
62:57
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Pirates Edged by Villanova; Honor Seniors in 2015 Finale
10/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall women's soccer team fired a season-high 15 shots on Friday night against visiting Villanova but the offensive flurry was not enough as the Pirates closed the 2015 campaign with a 2-0 setback.
Nine of The Hall's (2-14-2, 1-8-0 BIG EAST) attempts at goal came in the first 45 minutes as Seton Hall dictated much of the pace of play but five stops from Villanova's Emma Meyer in the period helped the visitors hang on to a 1-0 advantage that came courtesy of a close range goal from Emily Kuefler in the 10th minute.
In the early going, VU earned three corner kicks in a four-minute span and the third proved to be fruitful as a scrum in a crowded six-yard box led to an opportunity for Kuefler to pounce and put Villanova on top with a point-blank conversion.
Senior co-captain Emily Hansinger (Mount Laurel, N.J.) got her head on a Frankie Maier (Oradell, N.J.) corner on the other end in the 22nd minute but Meyer was there to make the save and just under 10 minutes later, substitute Jackie Saint John (Ridgefield, N.J.) nearly leveled proceedings when she unleashed a long-range effort that forced a leaping Meyer to push it up onto the bar and back into play.
Saint John's try was not the last time Meyer would be tested as the sophomore found the target again with a header in the 60th minute but shortly after, Villanova's Christina Camassa added an insurance goal when she collected a feed from teammate Amanda Volcelka and found the bottom corner.
Senior and leading scorer Amanda Gulli (Toms River, N.J.) nearly pulled one back with a sharp-angle shot in the 75th minute and Seton Hall three opportunities from the corner flag in quick succession inside the final five minutes of the match but each time, The Hall was turned away by the Wildcats defense.
As the season finale, Friday's match doubled as Senior Day for four members of head coach Rick Stainton's squad as Gulli, and Hansinger were honored along with Melissa Blevins (Laurel Springs, N.J.) and co-captain D'Yonna Riley (Washingtonville, N.Y.) in a pregame ceremony.
Turning Point
Saint John's well-placed long range effort came just 72 seconds after she entered for Blevins but Meyer's acrobatic save helped the Wildcats go into the second half with a slight edge.
Goals
VU - 10th minute - Kuefler (2) - One-touch on a loose ball in the six-yard box after post-corner scrum in the area.
VU - 63rd minute - Camassa (2) - Ran in behind back line following through ball, driven into bottom corner
Inside The Numbers
- Seton Hall totaled not only a season-high 15 shots but also earned a season-high seven corner kicks on the night.
- The graduating group of seniors combined to appear in over 230 matches for The Hall, including 69 from Riley which ranks among the top-20 in program history
- Emma Meyer's eight saves matched a season-high for a Seton Hall opponent previously set in a 1-0 setback at Xavier (Oct. 11)
- Nine different Pirates were credited with a shot attempt on the night; led by three (2 SOG) from Saint John
- Junior Illissa Blackshear (West Orange, N.J.) finished with five saves for SHU in her first appearance since October 18 against Butler
News & Notes
- The result snapped a five-match unbeaten streak for The Hall against Villanova that dated back to 2010 (4-0-1).
- Kuefler's goal also ended a 545-minute shutout streak for the Pirates against the Wildcats
- Gulli finishes as the team's leading scorer for the second-straight year after netting a career-best four goals this fall
- Gulli, Hansinger and Riley finish the year as three of four Pirates to start all 18 matches (Maier). All three played all 90 minutes in their final collegiate match
