Seton Hall University
Bloomfield
Gurel Scores Twice in SHU Victory
8/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The Pirates looked sharp in their final preseason warm-up, bouncing back from a 1-0 first-half deficit with three unanswered goals in a game that they dictated from the start.
Despite controlling the game offensively in the first half Seton Hall still found itself tied with Bloomfield, 1-1, heading into the break. The Pirates held a 14-4 advantage in shots, firing six on net, compared to just four shot attempts for the Deacons.
Bloomfield struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute, but Seton Hall answered right back with the game-tying score just three minutes later.
Sophomore Bolu Akinyode (Brooklyn, N.Y.) nearly gave SHU an early lead with a shot from 25-yards out in the 19th minute that banged off the top of the crossbar and out of play, but he came back to have a hand in Seton Hall's score in the 28th minute.
Akinyode dribbled through the middle of the defense and sent a crisp through ball to junior Christian Battistesa (South Bound Brook, N.J.) that he was able to corral and send across the box and into the net on the right side for the Pirates' first goal of the preseason.
Sophomore midfielder Konrad Plewa (Wallington, N.J.) nearly gave Seton Hall the lead seven minutes later with a strong individual effort. After weaving his way through the heart of Bloomfield's defense he fired a shot from 12-yards out that beat goalkeeper Cody Sherman, but it banged off the right post and the score remained 1-1.
The Pirates quickly grabbed control of the game once the second half was underway with Gurel's first goal coming just 32 seconds after the intermission. Taking a pass from junior forward Max Garcia (Jersey City, N.J.), he moved into the box and around Sherman, who came out to try and cut off the play. As a result Gurel found himself with an empty net, and easily scored to give SHU its first lead of the match.
Just 15 minutes later it was Gurel scoring once again, this time thanks to a well placed cross from sophomore Kai Greene (South Orange, N.J.).
Garcia got the play started by leading Greene to the far left side with a pass towards the corner. Once he was behind the defense, Greene squared up and sent a low cross into the box which Gurel expertly one timed past Sherman to give the Pirates a 3-1 advantage.
Seton Hall finished the game with a 26-10 edge in shots, placing 12 of their attempts on net. Junior goalkeeper Kevin Bonder (Whippany, N.J.) earned the win, making three saves in 45 shutout minutes in the second half.
Seton Hall will see its regular season get underway this Friday, Aug. 24, when it hosts Saint Peter's University at Owen T. Carroll Field at 7 p.m.
