SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall men’s soccer team was victorious, 3-1, over St. Peter’s in its return home on Monday in an explosive match at Owen T. Carroll Field. The Pirates (3-1-1) are now on a four-game unbeaten streak, their longest run since September of 2009.

Both teams pressured early, with multiple shots recorded within the first five minutes of play.  Sophomore Victor Manosalvas (Clifton, N.J.) fired a pair of shots in those opening minutes, one of which deflected off the left post.

A foul against the Peacocks would result in a Max Garcia (Jersey City, N.J.) free kick from roughly 20 yards out, but the attempt would also find the left goal post. Garcia would take a second swipe at the ball in the 21^st minute, but a misfire would result in another save for Peacock goalkeeper Carlos Suarez.

St. Peter’s took the lead in the 24^th minute after a free kick by Tom Shaw from about 40 yards away. Sophomore Anthony Reichwaldt (Lincoln, Neb.) went up to stop the long shot, but was knocked down when a multi-player collision knocked the ball loose for Noah Sadoui, whose shot would found the back of the net, giving the Peacocks the 1-0 lead. 

Another Garcia free kick in the 30^th minute would be saved by Suarez, who knocked the shot just over the crossbar. However, Seton Hall would find the equalizer only seconds after the save, when the ensuing corner kick of Giovanni Zammiello (Randolph, N.J.) found the head of Joe Baker (Lincoln, Neb.) in the box for his first goal of the year.

The first attempt of the second half came off an Adriano Gabriele (North Babylon, N.Y.) corner kick in 48^th minute. The cross found Konrad Plewa (Wallington, N.J. in the box. His header was knocked away by a Peacock defender just outside the goal, but could not clear. Freshman Bolu Akinyode (Brooklyn, N.Y.) snared the rebound and headed the ball high into the back of the net to score the eventual game-winner.

St. Peter’s strung together some offense in the 66^th minute, as a cross from AJ Johnson found Sadoui in the left corner of the box to set up a header, but his attempt ricocheted off the crossbar and kept the score in favor of the Pirates

The Pirates would later put the game away 73^rd minute. With nothing but a wide open field in front of him, a breaking Cody Hess (Bernville, Pa.) found Garcia to his left, who netted his team-leading fourth goal of the season to give the Hall some insurance, making the score 3-1.

The Pirates held a 22-12 advantage on shots, including a 10-3 lead on shots on target. Garcia continues to fill the stat-sheet, firing off a game-high seven shots.

Sophomore Kevin Bonder (Whipppany, N.J.) came on in relief of Reichwaldt after the collision in the first half and earned the win after making one save.

Seton Hall will return to action Friday, September 16, as they travel to West Long Branch, N.J. to take on #18 Monmouth.