No. 15 Pirates Get First BIG EAST Win Against Marquette

Published: Saturday, October 5, 2024

by Kyle Ferreira

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The No. 15 Seton Hall Pirates (8-1-1) were looking for a much-needed victory in BIG EAST play. After a scoreless draw against the No. 24 UConn Huskies, the Pirates prevailed with a 1-0 win against the Marquette Golden Eagles (6-4-1) on Friday night.

Early on against Marquette, it seemed the Pirates' recent offensive struggles would continue. The Hall’s attack couldn’t capitalize on strong opportunities from Stan De Vries and Jack Kossoudji. However, the Pirates’ backline was again stellar, effectively covering and defending Marquette's players.

After multiple chances, a glimmer of hope arrived for the Pirates. In the 35th minute, Seton Hall’s Jared Smith, with one defender on him, blasted a shot past Marquette goalkeeper Marten Brink to make it 1-0. It was Smith’s first goal since facing Rutgers, and the home crowd chanted loudly.

It was clear to the Golden Eagles that changes were needed in every part of the pitch. Marquette struggled to break through Seton Hall’s fierce defense and couldn’t capitalize on their four corner kicks in the first half. However, the intensity picked up on both sides as they entered the final 45 minutes.

Guided by seven shots in the second half, the Golden Eagles were relentless in the attacking third. However, Seton Hall’s Soren Jensen stood firm, expertly protecting the net and not allowing anything to get past him.

In the 81st minute, Jensen demonstrated why head coach Andreas Lindberg has faith in him. Marquette’s Abdoul Karim Pare launched a powerful shot, but Jensen was in the right place at the right time to make the save. In a defensively-minded and physical second half, Jensen and the backline rose to the occasion.

Despite some missed opportunities, the Pirates held on to secure a 1-0 win. On a busy Friday night in the BIG EAST, Seton Hall celebrated its first conference win. With the victory, the Pirates remain undefeated at home, boasting a record of 6-0.

The Pirates’ victory Friday night also marked their sixth shutout of the season. Even more impressive, Jensen recorded a clean sheet for the third time this season. This Pirates squad has shown strong performance in the defensive third, a quality they will need to maintain in their upcoming matches.

The Pirates will be back in action on Tuesday when they take on the Stony Brook Seawolves (2-4-3). They’ll look to build on their current 8-1-1 record and maintain momentum for the rest of the season.

Kyle Ferreira can be reached at kyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu. 

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