Velasquez Named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
10/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 21, 2013
NEW YORK - Seton Hall University senior forward George Velasquez (Union City, N.J.) has been named the BIG EAST Conference Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week and Pirate freshman goalkeeper Julian Spindler (Weiersbach, Germany) earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, it was announced Monday afternoon by the conference office.
Velasquez and Spindler were key contributors in an undefeated week for Seton Hall, with the Pirates picking up a pair of dominant victories in a 3-0 win over NJIT last Wednesday night and a 3-1 result against conference foe DePaul University on Saturday afternoon. It is the first time in his career Velasquez has been tabbed as the league's Offensive Player of the Week and the first-ever appearance on the Honor Roll for Spindler.
On the offensive end Velasquez set the tone for what turned into one of the best back-to-back offensive performances for the Pirates this season. He scored the game-winner in the 26th minute against NJIT to register his first tally of the week. Freshman midfielder Samuel Geiler (Offenburg, Germany) set up the goal with a cross from the end line left of the goal, finding Velasquez as he left his feet and lunged forward to head the pass on frame.
Against DePaul Velasquez finished with his first multi-goal game of the season, and the second of his career, scoring in each half to help Seton Hall easily handle the Blue Demons. His goal in the 11th minute was a one timer he roofed from 10-yards out, set up by a centering pass from classmate Max Garcia (Jersey City, N.J.) following an impressive run up the right side of the field.
With Seton Hall already leading 2-0, Velasquez scored again in the 58th minute. Senior Chris Garcia (Rutherford, N.J.) found Max Garcia on the right side, who briefly maintained possession before moving the ball up the field to Velasquez. DePaul keeper Eric Sorby came out from net to make a play, but his initial hesitation resulted in a calm chip from Velasquez that soared over Sorby's head and into the unprotected goal.
Following the big offensive week Velasquez is tied for second on the team with four goals this season, and ranks third with 10 points. The 2013 Preseason All-BIG EAST selection scored his 10th-career goal with the chipper over Sorby on Saturday
Spindler, who has been a force for the Pirates in net all season, finally posted a pair of results befitting his play. The 6-foot-4 freshman made four saves against NJIT to post his second clean sheet of the year.
He followed that up by stopping three of the four shots he faced against DePaul on Saturday afternoon, allowing just one goal in picking up his second-career BIG EAST victory. For the week Spindler boasted a 0.50 goals against average and a .875 save percentage.
With four BIG EAST regular season matches remaining the Pirates have already tied last season's overall and BIG EAST win totals as they sit at 6-6-2 overall and 2-3 in the conference. The team's 23 goals scored are the most since it netted 24 during the 2010 season.
Seton Hall has two road contests and two home games remaining and currently sits just one point behind Creighton for what would be the sixth and final spot for the 2013 BIG EAST Tournament.
The Pirates are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 23, as they head to Cincinnati, Ohio, to face the Xavier University Musketeers at 7 p.m. Seton Hall returns home to host Creighton on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Pirates and both Xavier and Creighton.
