Credit: GR Productions
Seton Hall Takes Down Rutgers in Rivalry Game
Published: Friday, September 4, 2026
by Maggie Fournier
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Garden State rivalry game between the Seton Hall Pirates (2-1-1) and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-1-1) was nothing short of heated Friday night. With a combined 27 fouls from both teams, 6 yellow cards for Seton Hall, no shortage of VAR review moments, and some spectacular saves by Seton Hall goalie Devin Armstrong, the game was hard fought until the end.
At the top of the first half, the Scarlet Knights came out strong, driving the pace of play. Setting the tone of the game off early, Mikkel Lejbowicz attempted to score for the Pirates in the 5th minute, but was blocked by Rutgers goalie Rafael Ponce de Leon. Rutgers followed this up with their own attempt at a goal, but it was headed out of the box by freshman Giacomo Graziani.
Tensions started to rise as Giacomo Mana and Zach Mastrodimos clashed at midfield, earning Mana a yellow card that was later removed due to a challenge from Seton Hall that resulted in a VAR review. The Pirates and Scarlet Knights then began to foul back and forth. Rutgers’ Amer Lukovic attempted to score but was stopped by Armstrong.
By the 20th minute of the game, Seton Hall had committed 7 fouls as the game started to pick up. Dan Karsten, Braxton Montgomery, and Joshua Jerome all tried to break the wall put up by Seton Hall’s Armstrong, but none succeeded. In the 36th minute Hannes Ottosson shot on goal but was blocked by Rutger’s Ponce de Leon.
At the end of the first half, both teams remained physical and aggressive, but scoreless.
Coming back from halftime, Nico Rubio drew a penalty that resulted in a penalty kick. Captain Til Kauschke took the penalty kick and drilled it into the right side of the net as Ponce de Leon dived in the other direction, bringing the score to 1-0 Seton Hall in the 47th minute.
Despite the Seton Hall lead, they remained incredibly physical with Graziani receiving a yellow card after tackling Abubakar Mayajana. Lejbowicz attempted to head the ball into the goal but was stopped by Ponce de Leon.
Hannes Ottosson then received a yellow card, followed shortly by Pius Ssebulime of Rutgers. More attempts from Rutgers to score were shut down by Armstrong. Milomir Cvoric and Rubio both received yellow cards in the 72nd minute. Brock Warren made two back-to-back shots on goal, but both were stopped by Rutgers’ Ponce de Leon.
Francesco Di Ponzio retaliated by making two shots of his own on Seton Hall’s goal, but again both were stopped by Armstrong. Both teams made a few more attempts to score, but the goalies on both sides remained strong.
Loke Mattsson received a yellow card just before the end of the game in the 85th minute after a tussle with a Rutgers player. When time was up, The Hall was able to remain strong against Rutgers’ futile last attempts to even out the score, allowing a Pirates win.
The incredibly physical nature of this game only contributed to the lore of the rivalry. With an excellent penalty kick by Kauschke and some spectacular saves by goalie Armstrong, the Seton Hall Pirates pulled a win out of the Garden State rivalry game against Rutgers.
Seton Hall will be back in action on Tuesday night when they take on Lehigh at Owen T. Carroll Field. You can listen to the match on wsou.net where Caitlin Barrar and Maggie Fournier will have the call with kickoff scheduled for 6:56 p.m.
Maggie Fournier can be reached at madeline.fournier@student.shu.edu
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