Oct. 26, 2005

NEWARK, N.J. - The 14th-ranked Seton Hall men's soccer team defeated the Marquette men's soccer team, 3-1, on Wednesday afternoon at Lubetkin Field on the campus of New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Seton Hall's Sacha Kljestan scored on a penalty kick in the 40th minute to give Seton Hall (12-2-2, 6-2-2 BIG EAST) a 1-0 lead. The goal, which is Kljestan's eighth of the year, came after senior Michael Zotti was pulled down by his shirt just inside of the box, and was Kljestan's second penalty-kick conversion in as many games.

"The penalty kick changes everything," head coach Steve Adlard said. "They can consolidate on defense and we have to be more committed, stretching us out. Any time you go down to a good team, it's hard to fight back."

Justin McGrath scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 55th minute, extending Seton Hall's lead to 2-0. McGrath took a header from John Raus and sprinted down the left-side of the field, firing a shot past MU keeper Andy Kroll, who made four saves on the day.

"Kljestan is a highly regarded player and I think they have three or four players that can change a game," Adlard said. "They have a very good team and showed it today."

Raus added a goal to his assist in the game's 82nd minute, giving the Pirates a 3-0 lead.

Marquette (5-9-1, 1-7-1 BIG EAST) continued its offensive attack and converted in the 86th minute, when freshman Nick Kay scored his first career goal, catching Pirate goalkeeper Ian Joyce off-guard in front of his box, and took a shot that sailed over Joyce's head and into the net.

Marquette had several other good scoring chances. Early in the second-half, a Seton Hall handball resulted in a Golden Eagle free-kick from just outside the Pirates' 18-yard line, but Joyce managed to punch the shot over the net. In the 72nd minute, junior Bryan Dahlquist fired a shot from 12-yards out that Joyce knocked away, but not out of harm's way, and Dahlquist rebounded it, with his second shot-attempt hitting the side of the net. Marquette had eight shots on goal, seven of which were saved by Joyce.

"I though we played very well today, creating chances and near misses," Adlard said. "In the first half, we had the better of the play, the PK notwithstanding. We just didn't finish our opportunities, which is a bit frustrating. We got shots on net today and forced their keeper to make some saves, which is a bonus."

The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday, October 29 at 7 p.m. at Valley Fields taking on West Virginia.