Borg's Late PK Salvages 3-3 Draw at Villanova

Saturday, October 7

Villanova, PA

1 PM

Seton Hall University

5-3-3, 1-2-1

Villanova

1-4-4, 1-2-1

Seton Hall

Villanova

10/7/2023 3:36:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Villanova, Pa. – In a match that featured a late flurry of goals, the Pirates used a late penalty kick goal from Andrea Borg (Sliema, Malta) to earn a 3-3 draw against Villanova on Saturday afternoon. All six goals were scored in the second half, with three of them coming inside the final eight minutes of the match.

How it Happened
Despite no goals coming in the opening 45 minutes, the first half did not come without scoring chances. Villanova entered the half outshooting Seton Hall, 8-7, with five of those attempts steered towards goal. Mats Roorda (Groningen, Netherlands) was tasked with making several saves to keep the home side off the board.

MATS ROORDA IS A BRICK WALL.

Don't believe us? Just watch.#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/UOGaBeWodI
— Seton Hall Men's Soccer (@SHUMSOC) October 7, 2023

Villanova finally broke through on a goal by Dominic Cyriacks in the 50^th minute to take a 1-0 lead, however it would not last for long. Just 1:13 later, Jared Smith (Longmeadow, Mass.) got his head on the other end of a corner kick swung in by James Boote (Southampton, England). Smith's shot got past Wildcats' goalkeeper Kent Dickey to level the match at 1-1.

51' | GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!

Just after Villanova takes the lead, Jared Smith heads one in off the corner to equalize!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/EvPMVqjYzV
— Seton Hall Men's Soccer (@SHUMSOC) October 7, 2023

The Wildcats would soon retake the lead, as a perfectly placed shot from Vincent Petrera in the 62^nd minute gave the hosts a 2-1 lead. Villanova seemed poised to hold on as the match entered the final 10 minutes, however chaos would ensue instead. The Pirates applied heavy pressure after the 80^th minute, eventually finding an equalizer from Agustin Resch (Arata, Argentina) in the 83^rd minute to tie the match at 2-2.

83' | AGUUUUUUUS!!!!!

Agustin Resch heads one home to level the score at 2-2!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/wCZSPfcUj7
— Seton Hall Men's Soccer (@SHUMSOC) October 7, 2023

Villanova would punch back less than two minutes later, as Petrera evaded his defender in the box and picked the back post with a shot to put the Wildcats back ahead in the 84^th minute. Once again, the Pirates' backs were against the wall.

In the 87^th minute, Borg leapt in the air to attempt to play a pass into the penalty area and was taken to the turf by Kyle Dixon. This prompted a whistle from the head referee, giving The Hall another late chance to tie things up. Borg stepped up confidently to the spot and drove a shot right down the middle for his fourth goal of the season.

87' | GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!

BACK AND FORTH WE GO! Borgy gets fouled in the box, then nets his fourth of the year as we equalize again!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/gQyj5ce1FP
— Seton Hall Men's Soccer (@SHUMSOC) October 7, 2023

News & Notes

With Resch's and Borg's equalizing goals after the 80^th minute, the Pirates have now scored nine game-tying/game-winning goals in the 80^th minute or later since the start of last season.
The Pirates scored twice inside the final 10 minutes of a match for the first time since Sept. 17, 2022, when they did so in a 2-2 draw at Xavier.
Borg's goal was his fourth of the season, setting a new career-high.
The Pirates' 18 total shots are a new season-high.

Up Next
The Pirates return to Owen T. Carroll Field on Tuesday night for their non-conference finale against Princeton at 6:56 p.m.