Spindler and Morrison Receive BIG EAST Honors
10/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Spindler, who twice this season had landed on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, picked up Goalkeeper of the Week recognition for the first time in his career. Morrison is being honored for the first time in his career and is the first Seton Hall men's soccer student-athlete to be tabbed as the conference's Defender of the Week in nearly nine years, since Christos Zisimatos on Oct. 23, 2005.
Spindler posted fantastic numbers in net for The Hall, who earned their first point of conference play by coming back late to tie Villanova on Wednesday, before shutting out Georgetown at home on Saturday afternoon.
For the week, Spindler logged 200 minutes in goal, allowing one score for a 0.45 goals against average and stopped 14 shots, resulting in an impressive .933 save percentage.
Six of those saves came at Villanova, where the Pirates played the final eight minutes of regulation and both overtime periods down a man, but still managed to come away with a point.
Against the Hoyas on Saturday, Spindler tied his career-high with eight saves, surviving a Georgetown offensive surge to start the match, turning away three shots in just the first 24 minutes. He held strong late, making a diving save on an Austin Martz attempt in the 88th minute, and punched away a cross in the 89th minute to prevent a final look on net.
It was the career-best fifth shutout for Spindler, and his first against a BIG EAST opponent.
Morrison's presence was felt on both ends, as he provided the first assist on the game-winner and helped anchor an SHU defensive unit that held one of the country's most prolific scorers largely in check.
On the game winner, it was Morrison chasing down a pass and making the cross to senior Andrew LoManto (Massapequa, N.Y.) who finished far post in the 69th minute. It was the second assist of the season for Morrison and the third of his career.
At outside back, Morrison played a critical role in limiting Brandon Allen, who entered the match ranked fifth in the nation with nine goals, to just one shot attempt. It was the Pirates' first shutout of a BIG EAST foe since Oct. 30, 2011, which was also the last time SHU defeated a top-five team, besting No. 3 Connecticut, 1-0.
Seton Hall is currently tied for seventh in the BIG EAST standings with four points and four matches to play, trailing the sixth-position and final spot in the BIG EAST Tournament by just one point.
The Pirates return to action this Saturday, Oct. 25, when they host Providence College at Owen T. Carroll Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Fabian Herbers - Creighton, So.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Shawn Morrison - Seton Hall, So.
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week
Julian Spindler - Seton Hall, So.
BIG EAST Rookie of the Week
Matt Vasquenza - Xavier, Fr.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Eric Dick - Butler, RS-Fr.
Jeff Adkins - Butler, Jr.
Mac Steeves - Providence, So.
Hayden Harr - Villanova, Sr.
Will Walker - Xavier, Sr.
