Seton Hall University
Providence
Men's Soccer Topped by No. 23 Providence
10/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The high-scoring Providence College Friars picked up a 3-0 victory over the Seton Hall University men's soccer team on Saturday afternoon at Owen T. Carroll Field.
Providence, the 23rd-ranked team in the country, entered the contest averaging just over two goals per match, the 13th-best mark in the nation, and an early strike in the fourth minute set the tone for the day.
On what proved to be the eventual game winner, an offensive opportunity that was not nearly as dangerous as several that SHU keeper Julian Spindler (Weiersbach, Germany) turned away later in the day, Phil Towler sent a through ball from midfield to Fabio Machado on the left side.
As Machado approached the 18 he unleashed a low shot near post, and Spindler was unable to dive in front to make the save.
As the first half drew on, Seton Hall outshot the Friars 7-4, but many of those attempts were from long range. The best look at a first-half score came from sophomore midfielder Samuel Geiler (Offenberg, Germany), who rifled a shot from 20-yards out in the 19th minute, only to see Keasel Broome leap to his left to make the save.
For the Pirates, Spindler finished the match by tying his career-high with eight saves, the third time this year he has hit that mark, and a majority of those plays were not of the routine variety.
Early in the second period, Towler chipped a shot on frame from 20-yards out, forcing Spindler to leap in the air and punch the attempt straight up in the air, allowing a defender to swoop in and make the clear. Even on his second goal allowed, the sequence started with an outstanding stop.
Dominik Machado fired from inside the area to Spindler's right, and he was there for a stop, only the rebound remained in play for Mac Steeves to clean up for this team-leading eighth strike of the season.
Providence's third goal was the direct result of an SHU giveaway, leaving Spindler with little chance to make a stop. Dominik Machado was credited with an assist, finding Julian Gressel down the left for a break on net, and he scored near side with a shot that was mere inches inside the post.
Seton Hall's best offensive look of the game came when the Pirates still faced just a two-goal deficit. In the 79th minute, redshirt sophomore Danny Bartok (Union, N.J.) placed a cross in front of the net for Victor Manosalvas (Clifton, N.J.), only to see an attempted header sail over the cross bar.
Seton Hall returns to action this Wednesday, Oct. 29, when it heads to Butler University. Kickoff against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 7 p.m.
