Walier, Nunez Tally as Pirates Down Creighton, 2-1

Saturday, October 14

South Orange, NJ

3 PM

Seton Hall University

7-3-3, 2-2-1

Creighton

3-5-5, 2-2-1

Creighton

Seton Hall

10/14/2023 5:41:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

South Orange, N.J. – The Pirates took home three crucial points in the BIG EAST standings on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Owen T. Carroll Field, defeating Creighton, 2-1. Mark Walier (Holmdel, N.J.) and Tomas Nunez (Longchamps, Argentina) scored the Pirate goals as Seton Hall notched its second BIG EAST win.

How it Happened
The early stages of the match saw the teams feeling each other out, though Creighton were able to control much of the possession game through the first half hour. This would eventually result in the visitors capturing the first goal, as Jackson Castro put one in the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

The Bluejays looked poised to take that one-goal lead into halftime, but the Pirates had other ideas. After a turnover gave Seton Hall possession, Virgil Dall'Agnol (Grenoble, France) found space in the attacking midfield and played a ball into the box. Andrea Borg (Sliema, Malta) flicked the pass slightly with his back heel, setting up Walier to slam home the equalizer with just 10 seconds remaining until the half.

45' | GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!

THE CAPTAIN! Mark Walier laces one into the back of the net with just 10 seconds remaining before halftime!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/pNQNnAi1mM
— Seton Hall Men's Soccer (@SHUMSOC) October 14, 2023

Walier's goal struck momentum towards the Pirates, who controlled possession for the majority of the second half. The final 45 minutes saw Seton Hall generate a bulk of the dangerous scoring opportunities, including a point blank header from Nunez that was saved by Creighton goalkeeper Blake Gillingham. It would not take long for Nunez to bounce back. As a Bluejay defender played a ball out of their own penalty box, Nunez stepped up and lace one from 25 yards out into the upper 90.

57' | WHAT. A. STRIKE.

WOW. Tomas Nunez with an absolute beauty of a goal to give us a 2-1 lead!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/x21istkE3F
— Seton Hall Men's Soccer (@SHUMSOC) October 14, 2023

Nunez's goal would hold up as the game-winner, as the Pirates defended well in the final moments of the match while Creighton pressed numbers forward.

News & Notes

Nunez's goal is the first of his Seton Hall career.
Walier's goal is the second of his career, his first since scoring at Butler back on Oct. 27, 2021.
Both of Seton Hall's goals were scored by reserves, the second such occurrence this season for the team.
The Pirates used just three reserves on the day as eight field players played the full 90 minutes.
This is Seton Hall's first win over Creighton since 2019.

Up Next
The Pirates travel to Queens this Wednesday night to renew their local rivalry with St. John's at 7 p.m.