Seton Hall University
Delaware
Players Mentioned
Maier, Garcia Help Lift Hall to Exhibition Win at Delaware
8/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
NEWARK, DEL. – Junior Frankie Maier (Oradell, N.J.) found the back of the net in the final minutes of the Seton Hall women's soccer team's exhibition match at Delaware on Thursday afternoon, helping the Pirates get off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over the Blue Hens.
Maier, who played all 90 minutes after starting all 18 matches as a sophomore last season, got in behind the Delaware defense less than two minutes from full time and slotted home the decisive strike off a pass from freshman Lauren Garcia (Westport, Conn.).
Maier led The Hall with 27 shot attempts in 2014 and her late goal provided Seton Hall a deserved result after stellar play at the back throughout the contest. Senior co-captains Emily Hansinger (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and D'Yonna Riley (Washingtonville, N.Y.) teamed with Cathy Chukuka (Marlboro, N.J.) and Melissa Blevins (Laurel Springs, N.J.) to help hold off the Blue Hens attack over the first 60 minutes while Garcia and a host of others were able to preserve the clean sheet over the final 30.
Freshman Anna MacLean (Thunder Bay, Ontario) received the start in goal for second-year head coach Rick Stainton and shutout Delaware over her 60 minutes on the pitch before senior Gina Maiorana (Street, Md.) came on to close out the victory.
While Thursday marked the fall debut for a new-look Pirate side that has added 11 newcomers, the result continued a trend that saw 12 of Seton Hall's 18 matches last season decided by one goal or less. Early in the Stainton era, The Hall has also established itself as a stout defensive unit; shutting down the Blue Hens after recording six clean sheets in his first season at the helm.
The exhibition match was the first of two scheduled for The Hall this week as SHU will return home to host Iona on Sunday, August 16 (1:00 p.m.). Seton Hall will officially open the 2015 season on Friday, August 21 against William and Mary in Harrisonburg, Va. before taking on hosts James Madison two days later.
The Pirates are set to make their home debut on Friday, September 4 against Duquesne in the first half of a Seton Hall soccer doubleheader at Owen T. Carroll Field. Kick-off is slated for 4:00 p.m.
