QUINNIPIAK, CONNECTICUT - Mikkel Lejbowicz needed just 31 minutes to write the story of Seton Hall's hard-fought victory, slotting home a perfectly weighted through ball from Agustin Resch and Axel Berglund's intricate combination play before a crowd of 847 at Quinnipiac University's James G. Moore Field.
The early breakthrough set the tone for what became a defensive chess match, with both teams marshaling their resources to protect their respective goals. St. John's goalkeeper, Owen Collinsworth, made four crucial saves to deny Seton Hall's attempts to extend their lead, while Seton Hall's defense absorbed St. John's pressure, withstanding 11 shot attempts across 90 minutes.
In the first half, Seton Hall's tactical approach was clear: control the midfield and launch swift counterattacks. Their strategy paid dividends when Lejbowicz scored, and they continued to dictate the pace, outshooting St. John's 3-2 by halftime. Emily Martin, Seton Hall's midfielder, orchestrated the Pirates' possession-based approach, threading passes through St. John's defense and creating scoring opportunities.
St. John's, meanwhile, struggled to create clear chances, with their best opportunity coming in the 27th minute when forward, Matthew Watson, rifled a shot just wide of the post. The Red Storm's attacking play was stifled by Seton Hall's organized defense, which snuffed out their attempts to create scoring chances.
As the second half unfolded, St. John's pushed hard for an equalizer, but Seton Hall's defense remained resolute. The Pirates' goalkeeper, Andreas Vaikla, made a crucial save in the 65th minute to deny Watson's follow-up attempt, preserving Seton Hall's slender lead. St. John's continued to press, but their efforts were ultimately in vain as Seton Hall held firm.
The statistical ledger reveals a closely contested game, with Seton Hall outshooting St. John's 5-1 on target, despite being outshot overall 11-5. The Pirates also held a marginal advantage in corner kicks, 3-2, though neither team capitalized on their set-piece opportunities. St. John's wasteful finishing was epitomized by their 1-in-11 shots on target ratio, a damning statistic that encapsulates their offensive struggles.
The victory represents more than three points for Seton Hall; it extends their winning streak to two games and maintains their unbeaten conference record (3-0-3). For St. John's, the loss continues their slide, marking their second consecutive defeat and leaving them with a 7-5-3 overall record. The Red Storm will look to regroup against Villanova next time out.
For Seton Hall, the challenge ahead is Creighton, a team known for their attacking prowess. The Pirates will need to maintain their defensive solidity if they are to continue their winning ways. As they prepare for their next opponent, Seton Hall can take heart from their recent form, having now won two consecutive games.
The afternoon belonged to Seton Hallβand specifically to Mikkel Lejbowicz, whose clinical finish set the tone for the Pirates' victory. As they build on this momentum, the question is: can St. John's rediscover their attacking form, or will they continue to struggle against organized defenses?
Key Players:
Mikkel Lejbowicz (Seton Hall) β The match-winner showed composure in front of goal, slotting home a perfectly weighted through ball to give Seton Hall the lead.
Agustin Resch (Seton Hall) β Orchestrated the Pirates' attacking play, providing the assist for Lejbowicz's goal and creating multiple scoring chances.
Emily Martin (Seton Hall) β Controlled the midfield battle with intelligent positioning and distribution, dictating Seton Hall's possession-based approach.
Owen Collinsworth (St. John's) β Made four crucial saves to deny Seton Hall's attempts to extend their lead, preserving St. John's hopes of a comeback.