Seton Hall Completes Comeback Win over DePaul

Date: October 7, 2017

By: Alex Melillo

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ- Seton Hall's Men's Soccer team (5-6-1) completed the 2-1 comeback win at Owen T. Carroll Field against the DePaul Blue Demons (4-6-1). The Pirates have now won back-to-back conference games for the first time since the 2012 season.

The Pirates entered Saturday afternoon coming off of a big win against Big East foe Creighton. Against the then ranked No. 25 Blue Jays, the Pirates struck twice, once from Andres Arcila and another from Francisco Alderete, to complete the 2-0 upset.

Looking the to build off the big win against Creighton, the Pirates conceded the first goal on the afternoon. In the 21st minute, a shot by Zach El-Shafei deflected off of a Pirates defender and past Pirate goalkeeper Peyton Elder.

The Pirates, however, continued to dictate the pace of play and kept the pressure on the Blue Demons. At the half, the Pirates had registered eight shots and three corner kicks.

Pirate fans have come to expect the impossible from Arcila this season. The senior has dazzled so far, coming into the game with 15 points on the season, most of any Pirates player. In the 60th minute, the senior from Colombia delivered for the home side.

After a nifty side step of a defender in the midfield, Arcila continued his run toward the box. After chipping the ball to the feet of forward Jonathan Jimenez, Arcila came up with the ball in a crowd of defenders and laced the shot past DePaul's goalkeeper for the equalizer.

(Photo: SHU Athletics)

Seton Hall continued to press and make in-roads against the DePaul defense, but DePaul's goalie Quentin Low was there each time to make the save. The final breakthrough came in the 80th minute from someone Pirate fans would not expect.

On what seemed like an innocent throw in, a flick on by Gaspar Jean-Baptiste was not properly cleared by the Blue Demons defender, allowing for a follow up crossing header by Jean-Baptiste.

Waiting at the back post was the captain for the Pirates, Lukas Pangonis. The senior defender buried his first career goal into the back of the net giving the Pirates the lead, and eventually the lead.

The win against DePaul was big for many reasons. Historically, it was the first time Seton Hall has defeated the Blue Demons since October of 2013.

Secondly, the win on Saturday means the Pirates will go into the halfway mark of conference play with an even record.

The Pirates have found a good vein of form in recent games with defense and hard work being two of the themes.

"We play compact, we play defensively, and we try to counter attack," said Lukas Pangonis, who scored the game winner.

This Pirates team has had times staying disciplined, so getting these victories has helped their mindset.

"Our mentality is discipline right now, just to remain discipline and work hard," said forward Jonathan Jimenez.

The Pirates have a week off before their next game, at Providence, on October 14. That game will be available on wsou.net.

 

Alex Melillo can be reached at alexander.melillo@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports