Seton Hall University
Delaware
WSOC Rallies for 2-1 OT Victory
8/31/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The win was the first for SHU in five all-time meetings with UD, and extended the team's win streak to five matches. The impressive run equals the second longest win streak in program history and marks just the third time the Pirates have won as many as five consecutive matches. SHU won a program best nine straight games during the 1997 campaign.
Seton Hall fell into an early hole as the Blue Hens capitalized on a defensive mishap, quickly putting an end to the Pirates' impressive scoreless streak which spanned over four full matches to start the season.
Less than two minutes into the action, UD midfielder Chelsea Duffy found space down the right side and sent a ball into the area. Seton Hall defender Meghan Hayes (Fredon, N.J.) put in a hard challenge on a player rushing the net but the ball caromed past goalkeeper Gina Maiorana (Street, Md.) and found Ali Miller who one-touched it into the vacant net, giving the Blue Hens an early 1-0 advantage.
Delaware nearly added to the lead just under 10 minutes later but freshman D'Yonna Riley (Washingtonville, N.Y.), the reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, was once again there to block the shot and allow Seton Hall to successfully defend the ensuing corner.
Riley came close to helping the Pirates draw level five minutes later when she made a long run into the offensive third and worked what looked to be a threatening one-two with junior Brittney Albrecht (Mahwah, N.J.), but UD was able to clear the ball away from the penalty area.
The Pirates created another chance to equalize in the 26th minute when Clarke worked free on the left edge of the box, but her go at goal sailed high.
The next quality chance for Seton Hall would come when substitute Katie Ritter (Hagerstown, Md.) was able to run onto a clearance that followed a defensive scramble in front of Maiorana. Ritter was able to hold possession and take on several defenders before releasing a shot that resulted in an SHU corner. Hayes got her head on the end of the ensuing ball, forcing Delaware keeper Jessica Levy to make the save.
Maiorana countered for the Pirates by coming up huge in the dying embers of the first half, making a sprawling save on Delaware's Gina DiTaranato who was unopposed at the edge of the box, keeping the defecit going at 1-0 going into the break.
Early in the second frame, Seton Hall consistently possessed the ball in an attacking area but the Delaware defense limited the amount of clean looks for the Pirates. UD nearly increased its lead against the run of play in the 51st minute, as DiTaranato again worked free but fired a shot just over the crossbar.
10 minutes later, persistent pressure from the Pirates paid off. Junior Marie Klemme (Berlin, Germany) made a run down the right wing and sent a high ball into the area. Levy had trouble reading the ball in the air and it ended up in the back of the net to put the teams on even terms at 1-1. The goal was the second of Klemme's career, and the second she has scored in the past week.
As the second half wore on, the teams traded chances to gain the upper hand. In the 70th minute, Delaware sent a probing ball into the area that almost found the goal scorer Miller. Senior Taylor Mims (Miller Place, N.Y.), who was a thorn in the side of the Delaware attack all afternoon, was there to slide tackle the ball away near the edge of the six yard box and end the opportunity.
Nine minutes later, senior Stephanie Soma (Franklin, Mass.) helped create what would be The Hall's best chance to score before the end of regulation. Soma worked free on the right side and sent a cross that rattled around in the center of the area. Clarke eventually found herself in possession but couldn't get her foot around a contested shot as her attempt went wide.
In what was a physical final 10 minutes, each team failed to cash in on opportunities from set pieces, sending the match into extra time with the score still knotted at 1-1.
At the start of the first extra period, Seton Hall turned the tides In a scene reminiscent of the first half, needing less than two minutes to find the winner. The initial opportunity came off the foot of Albrecht who fired a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box that was knocked down by Levy who had come off her line to cut down the angle. Clarke played the role of opportunist, pouncing on the rebound and producing the flurry that proved to be the difference.
Levy popped up to make a second save in succession on Clarke's first attempt but Seton Hall's leading scorer made her pay for again failing to retain control by slotting home the loose ball to send the Pirates home winners of their fifth-straight.
With the goal, Clarke increased her point total on the year to seven and is now tied for first on the squad with two goals to go with a team-high three assists.
Maiorana rebounded from surrendering an early goal to make a career-high three stops and earn her fourth win in as many appearances.
The Pirates return to action on Monday, Sept. 3, when they take to the road to meet Army in West Point, N.Y. Start-time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
