Sept. 25, 2005

Final Stats

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The 18th-ranked Seton Hall men's soccer team was stunned in overtime by Villanova, suffering a 1-0 loss at Owen T. Carroll Field on Sunday afternoon. VU's Charlie Rowan scored the game-winner on an assist by Greg Winther. The Pirates suffered their first loss to a BIG EAST foe at home since dropping a 1-0 game to West Virginia on Oct. 27, 2002, a span of 18 games during which they ran up a 16-0-2 record.

The goal was set up after Seton Hall (5-2-1, 1-2-1) failed to clear the ball out of their defensive end. Freshman Christian Vercollone had the ball about 30 yards out, but was knocked off the ball by Winther. Winther took the ball up the right wing, with Vercollone still on the ground due the contact from Winther, and sent a low cross into the box for Rowan who settled the ball about 10 yards out and sent a low shot to the far post past a diving Ian Joyce for the 1-0 win in the 95th minute.

The game was marked by physical play as both teams totaled 29 fouls, 21 of which were on Villanova. Seton Hall managed to shrug off the contact much of the game and generate scoring chances, but could not finish them for the first time this season. Junior Teddy Niziolek was Seton Hall's most dangerous player on the day and gave the Pirates a great chance in the 32nd minute when he took a pass from freshman Eliseo Giusfredi and had an open shot from 17 yards out. He was denied however as Jason Friel made a sliding save for one of his nine stops on the day.

The Wildcats played a defensive game much of the day, but showed an effective counter-attack at times and nearly scored in the 38th minute when they sent a cross into the box that found Joe Taylor at the far post, but his header was sent wide by a diving Joyce.

The Pirates came out with renewed pressure in the second half, but didn't get their best chance to score until the 74th minute when Niziolek found himself free again in the box, but his low shot was stopped again by Friel. Giusfredi created another chance in the 83rd minute when he took a pass from sophomore Yomar Gonzalez and sent it ahead for junior Sacha Kljestan. Kljestan ran the ball into the box, but his shot at the left post was stymied by Friel.

SHU held a decisive edge on the offensive end, outshooting VU, 16-10. Joyce made four stops for the Pirates, who played a solid defensive game throughout. Seton Hall was kept off the scoreboard for the first time in 2005, as they came into the game averaging just over three goals per game. Kljestan, who entered the game with a nation-leading 10 assists, was held without a point for the first time this season as well.

Villanova returns to campus to face La Salle on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.