No. 13 Pirates Take Charge in Second Half, Beat Harvard to Stay Unbeaten

Published: Saturday, September 14, 2024

by Anthony Collins

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The No. 13 Seton Hall Pirates continued their undefeated run with a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Harvard. The Pirates, trailing 1-0 at halftime, couldn't seem to find their offensive rhythm in the first half but exploded in the second with three unanswered goals to secure the win.

The first half was a physical and gritty contest, with both teams battling for control. Seton Hall's Jared Smith was a force early on, taking multiple shots and keeping the Harvard defense on edge. In the 7th minute, Smith’s bottom-center shot was denied by Harvard goalkeeper Lucian Wood, setting the tone for a hard-fought battle. Despite the Pirates' constant pressure, it was Harvard that struck first, with Dylan Tellado scoring in the 33rd minute after a well-placed shot gave the Crimson a 1-0 lead. Seton Hall nearly equalized just before halftime when Axel Berglund’s shot hit the post, but the Pirates went into the break still searching for a breakthrough.

The second half saw a complete shift in momentum as Seton Hall came out with renewed energy. Their persistence finally paid off in the 51st minute when a penalty kick was awarded after a foul in the box. Sophomore Jon Vignir Pétursson stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home, tying the game at 1-1 and breathing new life into the Pirates. From there, Seton Hall’s attack only intensified.

Ten minutes later, in the 60th minute, freshman Til Kauschke, who has been a standout this season, fired a powerful shot into the top left corner after a clever assist from Jack Kossoudji. This gave Seton Hall a 2-1 lead, and the Pirates never looked back. Kauschke’s goal marked a turning point, as the Pirates continued to dominate possession and create scoring chances.

In the 79th minute, Seton Hall extended their lead to 3-1 when Kossoudji, who had been a driving force throughout the match, found the back of the net with a well-placed shot, assisted by Konstantin Donalies. While Harvard managed a late response with a goal by Xavier Tanyi in the 89th minute, it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback, and Seton Hall held on for the 3-2 victory.

Jared Smith’s physicality and leadership were crucial in helping Seton Hall create scoring opportunities, especially in the second half. Harvard deserves credit for their bend-but-don’t-break defense in the first half, but they couldn’t withstand the Pirates' relentless pressure as the game wore on.

Seton Hall’s depth has been a key factor in their undefeated season. Coming into this match, eight different players had both scored and assisted on goals, with 14 players registering shots on target. The Pirates will look to continue their perfect run as they face their first Big East challenge of the season, an away game against Providence on Friday night at 7 p.m. With this win, Seton Hall is knocking on the door of a top-ten national ranking.

Anthony Collins can be reached at anthony.collins@student.shu.edu. 

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