{"id":3525,"date":"2021-04-29T09:28:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T13:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/?p=3525"},"modified":"2021-04-29T09:48:41","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T13:48:41","slug":"pirates-on-the-pitch-what-brought-seton-hall-mens-soccer-to-the-big-east-tournament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/2021\/04\/29\/pirates-on-the-pitch-what-brought-seton-hall-mens-soccer-to-the-big-east-tournament\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates on the Pitch: What Brought Seton Hall Men&#8217;s Soccer to the Big East Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the 2020-21 season, head coach Andreas Lindberg has turned Seton Hall Men&#8217;s Soccer team into a national powerhouse. The Big East Men&#8217;s Coaching Staff of the Year was able to lead the team to their first Big East tournament in 9 years. When taking a look at the statistics, it&#8217;s easy to see a storyline of defensive excellence and offensive <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">efficiency.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud835\ude3d\ud835\ude44\ud835\ude42 \ud835\ude40\ud835\ude3c\ud835\ude4e\ud835\ude4f \ud835\ude3e\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude58\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude5e\ud835\ude63\ud835\ude5c \ud835\ude4e\ud835\ude69\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude5b\ud835\ude5b \ud835\ude64\ud835\ude5b \ud835\ude69\ud835\ude5d\ud835\ude5a \ud835\ude54\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude67<\/p>\n<p>\u2705First BIG EAST Tournament appearance since 2012<br \/>\u2705Most BIG EAST wins since 2006<br \/>\u2705Highest national ranking since 1990<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HALLin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HALLin<\/a> \ud83d\udd35\u26aa\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JwWXKB3lTm\">pic.twitter.com\/JwWXKB3lTm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Seton Hall Men&#39;s Soccer (@SHUMSOC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SHUMSOC\/status\/1382380085773271041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 14, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This season, the Pirates formation has adapted the shape of their team from a 4-3-3 into a 4-4-2. Switching to this formation stretches the midfield with two wide men to control the play down the offensive wing. In addition, dropping an extra person into the midfield changes the attack into a two-striker formation. This is different from their 4-3-3 because it provides the wide midfielders with two attacking options when moving the ball inside. Having two supporting midfielders in the center of the park allows for <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the Pirates to control the tempo of the game and connect the play from back to front and side-to-side.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">On the defensive side of the ball, the 4-4-2 allows for the two wing-backs to stick to a more defensive role, as there are two wide midfielders that can take care of the attacking play. Along with defensive upgrades this past season, the Pirates\u2019 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">back line<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> keeping its shape is crucial in making it harder for the opposition to find a clear-cut chance, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and it has proved successful this season <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">with Seton Hall\u2019s opponents\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">only getting 38 of their 122 shots on goal.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While Andreas Nota\u2019s 81 percent save percentage\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">is a four percent improvement from his previous campaign,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the shots he is facing are fewer in number and lower in quality.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">His growth as a shot-stopper, paired with defensive improvements<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, has come together to form a water-tight team that excels in <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the accumulation of clean sheets, six this year compared to just two last year.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Pirates have played 11 games<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0at the time of writing, compared to 16 last year.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud835\ude4e\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude58\ud835\ude64\ud835\ude63\ud835\ude59 \ud835\ude4f\ud835\ude5a\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude62 \ud835\ude3c\ud835\ude61\ud835\ude61-\ud835\ude3d\ud835\ude44\ud835\ude42 \ud835\ude40\ud835\ude3c\ud835\ude4e\ud835\ude4f<\/p>\n<p>What a season for our keeper! Congrats, Nota!<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HALLin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HALLin<\/a> \ud83d\udd35\u26aa\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sZyGM2IDPL\">pic.twitter.com\/sZyGM2IDPL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Seton Hall Men&#39;s Soccer (@SHUMSOC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SHUMSOC\/status\/1382383146595848193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 14, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The defensive growth of the Pirates is impressive<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">they have dropped the opposition\u2019s shots per<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0game from 14 to 11<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and nearly halved\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">their goals per game<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Along with\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">an increase in offensive production, Seton Hall\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">is a tough prospect<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0for\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">opposing teams.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Although Seton Hall\u2019s shots per game have decreased from 12.9 per game to 12.3, that has not\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">resulted in few goals or assists<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The 20-21 season has seen the Pirates increase their goals per game to 1.45 from <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">1.38 and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0seen their shots on goal percentage\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">increase\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nearly\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">six percent from\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">41.5<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0percent to\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">47.4 percent.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Congrats to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SHUMSOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SHUMSOC<\/a> sophomore Eden O&#39;Leary on being named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week! His game-tying goal vs. Georgetown last Saturday is the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PSEGdelivers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@PSEGdelivers<\/a> Play of the Game! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HALLin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HALLin<\/a> \ud83d\udd35\u26aa\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eCAqdRniVb\">pic.twitter.com\/eCAqdRniVb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Seton Hall Athletics (@SHUAthletics) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SHUAthletics\/status\/1374073024639606786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 22, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The 4-4-2 formation allows the two forwards to play with a higher line on the opposing defenders in the center of the field, where they can either make a run in behind or hold up the play for the midfielders to catch up and for the wide men to get ahead on the flanks. The beauty of this formation is that the team is given so many options for play, it allows players to be creative with their movement and passing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Although the two top\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">goal scorers<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0of last season, Carlton McKenzie and Stephen Elias, are no longer with the team<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the rest of the squad\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">has elevated their game with a greater spread of goals and assists<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Another major factor that has played part in the Pirates&#8217; success is the threat that they have posed from the set-piece. Whether it be off a corner or a free-kick, Seton Hall has scored from a set-piece in six of their eleven games this season. On top of that, five of those six set-piece goals were either game-tying or game-winning goals, including this one by junior Maurice Williams vs UConn.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u1d0b\u1d07\u1d07\u1d18 \u1d0f\u0274 \u0280\u1d0f\u1d04\u1d0b\u026a\u0274\u2019 \u1d0d\u1d0f\ud83c\udfb8\u26bd\ufe0f\ud83e\udd18<\/p>\n<p>Williams\u2019s first goal of the year has us up 1-0 in the second half!<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/HALLin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#HALLin<\/a> \ud83d\udd35\u26aa\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rhuw5yI3eo\">pic.twitter.com\/rhuw5yI3eo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Seton Hall Men&#39;s Soccer (@SHUMSOC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SHUMSOC\/status\/1375879813827862542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 27, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Furthermore,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">conference play has seen the rise of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">JP Marin and James Boote<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, both involved in\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">four goals over the eight game<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Their contributions are critical\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">for a team that had a losing record both overall and in conference play last year<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With the Big East Tournament on the horizon, look for either\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">of those two men to get involved<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0or the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">team\u2019s top scorer<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, CJ\u00a0Tibbling, to\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">add another goal\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">to his previous four.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Should the games become a grind, look for the Pirates to pull away on\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">spectacular defensive play.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the 2020-21 season, head coach Andreas Lindberg has turned Seton Hall Men&#8217;s Soccer team into a national powerhouse. The Big East Men&#8217;s Coaching Staff of the Year was able to lead the team to their first Big East tournament in 9 years. When taking a look at the statistics, it&#8217;s easy to see a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4981,"featured_media":3542,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,386,304],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hall-sports","category-pirates-on-the-pitch","category-soccer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4981"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3525"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3525\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3716,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3525\/revisions\/3716"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}