Seton Hall University
USF
Pirates Fall to USF, 1-0
9/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The matchup was just the third time in program history that Seton Hall has faced South Florida and the first time the two squads have played since 2009. With the loss SHU falls to 6-6 overall and 1-3 in BIG EAST contests, while USF improved to 5-4-2 and 1-1-1 in the conference.
The first half saw strong defensive efforts from both teams with neither Seton Hall nor USF generating many scoring chances.
Seton Hall's best scoring chance of the opening period came in the 11th minute off a set piece from 30-yards out. Junior Marie Klemme (Berlin, Germany) took the free kick for the Pirates and sent a great pass into the area where junior Meghan Hayes (Fredon, N.J.) made a solid strike with a header on net that USF goalkeeper Christiane Endler was barely able to punch over the crossbar and out of play.
Just three minutes later Seton Hall goalkeeper Alyssa Kelly (Southampton, N.J.) made a diving save to keep the Bulls from getting on the scoreboard. Sharla Passariello created space down the right side and sent a hard shot toward the near post, but Kelly dove to her left to make the save.
With just over 90 seconds to play in the opening half Kelly came up with her second save of the game. This time the Bulls had a free kick from the left side, on line with the top of the goal box. While USF did not get a shot off the initial pass the Pirates were unable to clear and Demi Stokes eventually headed a shot toward the net, but Kelly quickly snatched it out of the air.
USF had a 5-2 advantage in first-half shot attempts and a 2-1 edge in shots on goal. Hayes and senior Stephanie Soma (Franklin, Mass.) both had shot attempts for the Pirates.
Junior Brittney Albrecht (Mahway, N.J.) was very active on the offensive end in the opening moments of the second period sending two shots on net within the first five minute of action, but Endler was there to stop them both.
In the 63rd minute Albrecht nearly connected with Soma as she made a great individual play in the near corner, sidestepping a defender before sending a pass toward Soma in the box. Soma used a header to deflect the pass on net, but again Endler made the save, one of her four in the game.
Just a few minutes later the Bulls managed to score the only goal of the game. Taylor Patterson started the play as she went one-on-one with freshman D'Yonna Riley (Washingtonville, N.Y.) down the right side of the field.
Riley shielded Patterson away from the ball and it appeared as if it was about to trickle past the end line for a goal kick. However, Patterson deftly saved kept the ball in play and quickly made a centering pass to Passariello who finished with an uncontested shot for her team-leading fifth strike of the season.
Trailing by a goal, the Pirates' best chances to tie the game came in the 77th and 78th minutes. Soma orchestrated the first chance, blasted a shot from 10 yards out over the cross bar. Only 30 seconds later it was junior Ashley Clarke (Paramus, N.J.) sprinting up the left side of the field and into the box. She dribbled to around 10-yards out from net and sent a hard low shot toward the far post, but it missed wide to the right.
USF finished the game with an 11-7 edge in shots and a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. Kelly made four stops between the pipes for Seton Hall.
The Pirates will begin a four-game road trip next weekend as they head to Syracuse, N.Y., to take on the Orange on Friday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m., and St. John's University next Sunday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m.
