Bolu Akinyode Named to BIG EAST Honor Roll
11/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK - Seton Hall University senior midfielder Bolu Akinyode (Lagos, Nigeria) was named to the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Weekly Honor Roll, it was announced Monday afternoon by the league office.
Akinyode played a critical role in Pirates' 3-3 tie against No. 24 Marquette on Saturday night, registering three points in the first half with a goal and an assist. It is the first time in his career that he has received weekly accolades from the conference office.
In the second minute against Marquette, Akinyode helped set up the first goal of the game, sending a through ball from midfield down the left side for classmate Victor Manosalvas (Clifton, N.J.) to chase down. Once he moved in on net, Manosalvas fired far post from six-yards out, giving the Pirates an early lead.
Marquette came back to tie the game moments later, but in the 25th minute Akinyode scored to put his team back out in front. Off a throw in deep in the Marquette zone, Akinyode gained possession near the top of the 18-yard line. As he turned to fire a shot on net, he actually started to lose his footing due to slippery conditions due to a persistent light right, but his attempt traveled through the area and past Lyon toward the far post for his career-best third goal of the season.
It was the first time in his career Akinyode recorded three points in a game, and with one match to play he ranks third on the team in scoring this season with three goals and two assists for eight points.
With the tie on Saturday night, Seton Hall kept its postseason hopes alive, as the Pirates can still earn the conference's sixth and final playoff berth with a win at St. John's in its season finale on Thursday night. Although, The Hall will still need some help to secure the spot.
The Pirates must win at St. John's to have a chance at qualifying for the BIG EAST Tournament. Seton Hall trails sixth-place Butler by two points, and the Bulldogs own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Marquette sits between Seton Hall and Butler in the conference standings and is also still alive for the sixth-seed in the tournament.
With a win at St. John's, Seton Hall would need a Butler loss at Xavier and also a Marquette loss or tie in its season finale against DePaul.
Kickoff for the regular season finale at St. John's is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
BIG EAST Offenseive Player of the Week
Timo Pitter - Creighton, M/F
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Jared Rist - Georgetown, M/D
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week
Eric Dick - Butler, GK
BIG EAST Rookie of the Week
Walker Andriot - Xavier, D
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Vincent Keller - Creighton, D
Tomas Gomez - Georgetown, GK
C. Nortey - Marquette, F
Dominik Machado - Providence, F
Bolu Akinyode - Seton Hall, M
