Seton Hall University
10-1-3, 5-1-2
Air Force
7-5-1, 4-4-1
Pirates Advance to NCAA Third Round, Defeat Air Force in Thriller, 2-1
5/2/2021 9:59:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Tibbling, who notched his team-leading seventh goal of the season, has now scored the game-winning goal in back-to-back matches. He also scored the game-winner on April 17 to help the Pirates defeat Georgetown and capture the BIG EAST Tournament championship.
Seton Hall, which earned its first NCAA Tournament win since 2005, now is 10-1-3 as its magical season continues.
𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒!
— Seton Hall Men's Soccer (@SHUMSOC) May 3, 2021
A clutch goal in the 89th minute from CJ Tibbling sends us to the Round of 16!
You're going to want to take a look at this, @ESPNAssignDesk.#HALLin 🔵⚪️ | #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/j4sbBNzpym
Turning Point
All the scoring took place in the final 25 minutes of the match as the Pirates struck first on sophomore James Boote's (Southampton, England) free kick in the 64th minute that sliced into box, where junior JP Marin (Briarwood, N.Y.) headed the ball to cause a deflection past the keeper far post. Then Air Force answered with an equalizer in the 75th minute when Elijah Bussey pushed up field into the box and passed to an open Tristan Trager, who hit a shot that was deflected and finished just out of reach of senior Seton Hall goalkeeper Andreas Nota (Rome, Italy).
Both teams kept pushing offensively for the go-ahead goal. But it was the Pirates who found the back of the net once more. After a foul gave The Hall a free kick just short of midfield, the Pirates gathered possession and Air Force then forced the ball out for a throw. Sophomore Johannes Pex (Stephansposching, Germany) made a long throw in to Tibbling, who was waiting in the box. He played the ball with back to his defender, then changed direction with two men on him, and went back to his right and got off a clear strike that surprised the Falcons keeper and went over his head for the tally.
Goals
64' - Marin (3) from Boote - Free kick sails into the box, headed in far post
75' - Trager (2) - Point blank shot in the box deflects off defender into goal
89' - Tibbling (7) - Right-footed strike after changing direction, high past keeper
Inside the Numbers
- Seton Hall had the better of the opportunities with 23 shots to Air Force's nine. The Pirates also had the advantage in shots on goal, 9-3.
- The Pirates had six corners and held Air Force to just one.
- Nota mostly went unchallenged with just two saves.
- Boote's goal was his first of the season, but he now has nine points on the year when including his team-best seven assists.
- Tibbling has a team-leading seven goals on the season and has three game-winners on the season, including each of The Hall's last two.
𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒!
— Seton Hall Men's Soccer (@SHUMSOC) May 3, 2021
Pirates advance to the Round of 16 for the first time since 2001!#HALLin 🔵⚪️ | #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/qbPgaGRS6d
News & Notes
- Seton Hall improved to 10-1-3 on the season, its first double-digit win season since 2005, which is also the last time the Pirates won an NCAA Tournament game. That came in the first round against Hartwick.
- Overall, this was The Hall's sixth all-time NCAA Tournament victory.
- The Pirates have advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 for the third time in program history and first since 2001. The Hall lost to Fairleigh Dickinson in the third round back in 2001 and defeated Brooklyn College back in 1991.
No. 6 Seton Hall will now head to the NCAA Championship Third Round and will face Virginia Tech on Thursday, May 6, at Wakemed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m., and the game will be streamed on NCAA.com. NCAA Third Round merchandise is now available online.
Team Stats
JP Marin (3)
Assisted By: James Boote
GOAL by SHU Marin, JP Assist by Boote, James.
63:32
Tristan Trager (2)
Assisted By: Elijah Bussey
GOAL by AFA Trager, Tristan Assist by Bussey, Elijah.
74:14
CJ Tibbling (7)
GOAL by SHU Tibbling, CJ.
88:17
