Pirates on the Pitch: Big East Championship reclaimed by the Hall

Hall SportsAshley Stepper

The Pirates went Hall In like it was 1991 for the Big East Men’s Soccer Championship Saturday afternoon and beat out the Georgetown Hoyas at Shaw Field, in a 2-1 game. After a 30 year hiatus for the Hall, the No. 11 team will be bringing back the championship title to South Orange. The game-winning goal was scored by junior CJ Tibbling.

Camil Koreichi set the tone early by scoring the first goal of the game in the sixteenth minute. In a 1-on-1 showdown with Georgetown’s keeper, Koreichi deposited the ball into the left corner of the goal. It was the first goal scored by Koreichi for the season, and was assisted by Tibbling and Marin.
MORE PIRATES MEN’S SOCCER COVERAGE
The Hoyas remained competitive and controlled much of the first half’s play, and responded to the Pirates’ first goal by scoring their own in the 34th minute of the match. Following that point, the game went tied into the half.
It was at the 63rd minute of play that the turning point occurred. Off a pass from Sundell, Tibbling battled with two Georgetown defenders before shooting the ball and making the game-winning goal.  It was his sixth of the season, and went in by the low post.
Georgetown attempted to even out the score in a penalty kick awarded to them five minutes after Tibbling’s goal. These efforts were unsuccessful, as Nota saved the ball, keeping the Pirates in the lead. The Hoyas would continue after this to keep themselves in the game, but ultimately were unsuccessful.
The game not only was for a title, but was also to honor late former-Pirate Peter Scavo. Prior to the game’s start, the team honored him and his jersey.
The excitement only continues for the Pirates. After the game, Mattias Sundell and Maurice Williams were announced as Big East most outstanding offensive and defensive players. The Pirates also secured themselves into the NCAA Tournament, and will make their first appearance since 2005. The selection show for it airs Monday at noon. The men can play as early as the first round on Thursday, April 29th. The entirety of the tournament will be held in North Carolina.