Seton Hall Tops UConn in Big East Opener

Published: Saturday, September 19, 2026

by Jacob Glick

STORRS, CONN - The Seton Hall Pirates (3-2-2) defeated the Connecticut Huskies (3-4-2) in their BIG EAST conference opener on Friday night. 

 

The Huskies headed into the match on a five-game unbeaten streak, with their last loss coming on the 27th of August against Fairfield. 

 

It was a physical game on both sides, with both teams combining for 28 fouls, including three yellow cards and one red card. 

 

The Pirate defense would be tested early, with UConn controlling the ball for much of the first ten minutes. Devin Armstrong and the back line stayed strong, holding the Huskies scoreless in that time. 

 

The Pirates quickly converted that defensive momentum into offense. In the 14th minute, junior transfer Sivert Ryssdalsnes found the back of the net on a jaw-dropping bicycle kick on the assist from Joaquin Brizuela, giving Seton Hall a 1-0 lead.  
 

They would add to the lead just a minute later. After a near miss off the crossbar, Nico Rubio snuck one past Kyle Durham for his first career collegiate goal, making it 2-0 Pirates. After surrendering a 1-0 lead late and eventually falling to Penn in the last game, Seton Hall decided to play more on the defensive side. 

 

The game would remain quiet until the middle of the 2nd half. In the 62nd minute with UConn threatening, Freshman midfielder James Reed committed a costly foul, which, after video review, awarded the Huskies a penalty kick.  

 

 
With a chance to pull his team within one, sophomore Preston Alessio stepped up and drilled the kick through the bottom right corner, cutting the Pirates’ lead in half. 

 

However, that goal was the only one the Seton Hall defense would allow the rest of the night. Even with the Huskies outshooting the Pirates 7-0 after the penalty kick, Armstrong held it down in net, saving two of three shots that came his way.  
 

In the final two minutes, a scoring chance for the Huskies was waived off because of goalkeeper interference, giving the Pirates and their fans a massive sigh of relief. 

 

On the night, UConn led Seton Hall in shots, 16-10. Despite this, the Pirates led UConn in shots on goal, 7-4. 
 

Seton Hall had struggled this season to get going early. The two early goals on the night changed that, allowing them to move to 1-0 in BIG EAST play. 

 

The Pirates are back in action on Tuesday at 7 p.m., visiting eleventh ranked Princeton. 

 

Jacob Glick can be reached at jacob.glick@student.shu.edu 

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