Wednesday, November 11
Boyds, Md.
7:30 PM
Seton Hall University
vs
Villanova
11/11/2026 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
South Orange, N.J. – Back in the BIG EAST Championship for the first time in 15 years, the third-seeded Seton Hall Pirates take on No. 2 seed Villanova in the BIG EAST Semifinals on Wednesday night. Kickoff is slated for approximately 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+ from Maryland SportsPlex in Boyds, Md.
NEWS & NOTES
NEWS & NOTES
- Seton Hall is making its first appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament since 2011 and its seventh appearance in the championship overall.
- The Pirates had a remarkable turnaround this season, qualifying for the BIG EAST Championship after having finished in last place in the standings in 10 of the last 11 seasons.
- The Pirates were picked to finish last in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll.
- Seton Hall's last win over Villanova came on Sept. 23, 2021, a 2-1 win for the Pirates on the road.
- Kate Kleinsmith was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team, joining Stacey Nagle (nah-gull) as the only Pirate goalkeepers to earn that distinction.
- Kleinsmith is the first All-BIG EAST First Team honoree for Seton Hall since Natalie Tavana, who was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2023.
- Kleinsmith dominated in league action, leading the BIG EAST in every goalkeeping statistical category during conference matches.
- Kleinsmith leads the nation in save percentage (.910) and leads the BIG EAST and ranks top-10 in the nation in goals against average (.414, 6th in nation) and shutouts (10, 8th in nation).
- The Pirates as a team have 12 shutouts this season, which is tied for the most in the country and is a new single-season program record.
- Kleinsmith is on pace to shatter the program's single-season mark for goals against average (0.75, Amanda Becker in 2011).
- Kleinsmith is a two-time BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week and a four-time BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll recipient.
- Cassidy Brown was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team after her tremendous season at centerback.
- Brown has started all 16 matches and played all but 65 minutes this season.
- Midfielder Brianna Azevedo was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team.
- Azevedo's goal in the 75th minute at Georgetown on Oct. 24 gave the Pirates their first win over the Hoyas since 2011.
- Seton Hall's three all-conference recipeints are its most since receiving four honorees in the 2013 season.
- Seton Hall's last trip to the BIG EAST Tournament was in 2011. That year, the Pirates defeated St. John's in the First Round, 1-0, before falling to eventual champion West Virginia in the Quarterfinals.
- With the 1-0 win over Providence on Oct. 17, Seton Hall set a new team single-season program record with their ninth shutout of the season.
- Seton Hall's team goals against average of 0.375 sits second-best in the country.
- The team's 0.750 shutout percentage (12 shutouts in 16 matches) as well as its 0.915 team save percentage are both the best in the country.
- The Pirates rode a seven-match shutout streak earlier this season, another first in program history.
- The Pirates rattled off four consecutive wins to open the campaign for the first time since starting 5-0 in 2012.
Players Mentioned
Saturday, November 07
Friday, November 06
Tuesday, November 03
Saturday, October 31
