Seton Hall
Stephen Elias plays the hero in Seton Hall's 2-1 win over DePaul
Date: September 28, 2019By: Joe Cammarota
The Pirates got to play their first game at the newly renovated Owen T. Carroll Field against Big East opponent DePaul Blue Demons on Saturday night, where they were able to squeak out a 2-1 victory.
Seton Hall came into the match with a 2-4 record, while their opponent came in sporting a 4-4-1 record. Although Seton Hall was not favored, they used the atmosphere to keep on pushing against the worn-down Blue Demons. The first half started with the ball being kicked around back and forth, as neither team really held control of the game in the first 20 minutes. DePaul was able to get two shots off early in the half, neither of them threatened.
The game started to pick up in the 21st minute when captain Stephen Elias was tackled hard by Matthew Brickman who received a yellow card for his actions. After that Seton Hall was able to gain momentum for the rest of the half. In the 25th minute, a foul in the box by Dan Iscara led to Seton Hall being awarded a penalty kick.
Sophomore forward C.J. Tibbling who just came on as a substitution slotted the penalty in right past DePaul’s Drew Nuelle outstretched arms in the bottom right corner of the goal. Seton Hall continued to dominate possession by applying pressure to DePaul. Seton Hall took five shots but only one came on goal in the first half. In the 45th minute DePaul was able to even up the game, as Zach El-Shafei received a pass from Jake Fuderer and placed it in the net past keeper Andreas Nota.
DePaul controlled play early in the second half, and it looked like they would control the rest of the game as they applied pressure on Seton Hall’s midfield and defense. DePaul almost took the lead in the 50th minute but an acrobatic save by Nota kept the game even.
Seton Hall quickly had a counter after a corner, but DePaul was able to track back and keep the Hall from getting a shot off. This led to the Pirates to get some momentum, including a 56th minute shot from Nathan Tremonti that was placed bottom right, only to be stopped by the outstretched arms of Nuelle.
Coach Lindberg spoke on the change of momentum in the second half, “The boys did a good job of trying to change the momentum, and that’s what any sport is like, it’s about trying to change the momentum. There were times, I think a good 20 minute spell in the second half, where we had the momentum.”
Part of that momentum change was due to Carlton McKenzie. McKenzie came on as a substitute and was able to set up multiple Seton Hall attacks in the second half with great runs down the right wing, but the DePaul defense was able to get back and spoil the attacks. Seton Hall was finally able to retake the lead in the 86th minute when after a corner bounced back outside the box where Torbjorn Alseth controlled the ball.
Alseth then crossed the ball into the center of the box where Stephan Elias was able to get a shot which he volleyed into the net to break the deadlock and gave the Hall a 2-1 lead. Elias said of the game-winning goal, “Those second balls are the most dangerous balls in soccer, that’s when teams shut off. That ball back in, Eden [O’Leary] ended up going up for a header with the keeper, and I was just lucky enough the ball bounced and I knew as soon as it bounced, I was swinging for it.”
The Hall took 13 shots in the second half, putting nine on target compared to DePaul’s four shots and two on goal. This proved to be the difference in the game, Seton Hall was able to get more chances, and apply more pressure on Nuelle than DePaul was able to on Nota. Seton Hall will continue Big East play Friday, October 4, at home when the Creighton Blue Jays visit South Orange. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Joe Cammarota can be reached at joseph.cammarota@student.shu.edu.
