Seton Hall University
Delaware
Upset Bid at No. 21 Delaware Falls Short
9/10/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Seton Hall held a 2-1 lead with fewer than 20 minutes to play when Delaware strung together a pair of scores in quick succession to seize control of the contest. Thibault Philippe provided the game-tying strike, sending a free quick from 25-yards out into traffic in front of the SHU net, with the deflection rolling past sophomore keeper Julian Spindler (Weiersbach, Germany).
Spindler made several spectacular saves throughout the match, including two key stops early in the second half that helped the Pirates maintain a tie before eventually taking a lead, but there was nothing he could do to stop the eventual game winner.
Shortly after action resumed, Joe Dipre controlled the ball 30-yards out from the Pirate net on the left side and directed a perfectly placed shot past Spindler and into the upper 90. Seton Hall pressed over the final 18 minutes of action but was unable to generate any strong attempts on frame, as the Blue Hens hung on for the win.
Delaware, which landed in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top-25 poll earlier this week for the first time in school history, improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1968. It was the second straight year a 4-0 Blue Hen team matched up with Seton Hall, only last year the Pirates handed Delaware its first loss of the season in a 5-4 double overtime thriller.
After falling behind 1-0 in the 18th minute on Wednesday night, redshirt senior Victor Manosalvas (Clifton, N.J.) scored his second goal of the year to tie the contest before the half. In the 34th minute, sophomore Samuel Geiler (Offenburg, Germany) played a corner on the right side near the net, only to see keeper Borja Barbero deflect the pass out of harm's way.
Barbero failed to clear the zone, as SHU senior defender Mateusz Brela (Kielce, Poland) chased down the loose ball. He sent a beautiful cross back into the area, where Manosalvas received it at the far post, heading in the score.
Delaware started strong in the second period, controlling play for the first 15 minutes and registering the first three shots attempts of the half, only to see Spindler keep its offense at bay, making a save on a point blank shot off the foot of Guillermo Delgado in the 54th minute.
Finally in the 62nd minute Seton Hall broke the tie with its second goal of the night coming off a set piece. A foul call 30-yards out from the Blue Hen net gave the Pirates a free kick. Geiler initiated the play, sending a pass in to senior forward Kai Greene (South Orange, N.J.), which he headed past Barbero to give The Hall its first lead of the night.
Spindler continued to make acrobatic plays in net, diving to his right to make a tremendous save on a Dipre line shot off a free kick in the 67th minute. For the night he was credited with three saves, but he made several additional plays to keep the Pirates in the game against one of the most potent offensive teams in the country; Delaware entered the night averaging 3.5 goals per game, the fifth-best mark in the nation.
Seton Hall will play its next three matches at home, starting this Sunday, Sept. 14, with a contest against in-state rival Princeton University. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m., at Owen T. Carroll Field.
