Seton Hall Prep soccer team goes to 7-0-1 on season

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The Seton Hall Prep soccer team continued its great season, going 2-0 this past week to raise its record to 7-0-1 on the season.

On Sept. 17, the Pirates hosted Millburn at Brendan P. Tevlin Memorial Field and defeated the Millers, 1-0. Aidan Dunphy struck for the lone goal with 11:43 left in the first half when junior forward Nick Palangio fired a shot off the post and Dunphy cleaned up for the eventual game-winning goal. Tomas Hut had three saves as Seton Hall Prep had a 11-3 advantage in shots on goal.

Following the game, Dunphy said, “We are definitely running on high now and we just have to keep our mind focused and take it one game at a time.”

SHP head coach Marty Berman said, “As a team, I am ecstatic with the way we are playing right now. Today may have been a 1-0 game but I think it was a pretty decisive win. Coming into this season, we thought that we had a great chance to do something special and these games are proving it.”

On Sept. 21, the Pirates traveled to take on The Pennington School at Tom Liwosz Field and defeated one of the top Prep School teams in the country, 1-0. Lucas Ross’ shot was saved by Pennington goalie Rafa Ponce de Leon, but Ryan Spezzacatena put in the rebound with 29:37 left in the second half. Hut stopped all 13 shots by Pennington to record his third shutout of the season and the Pirates’ sixth clean sheet in their eight games.

Following the game, Hut said, “I am really proud of the way we are playing as a team together and especially the way the defenders are playing in front of me.”

The Pirates are ranked in the following polls:

TopDrawerSoccer.Com: No. 14  in Fab 50 National, No. 5 in East Region and No. 4 in New Jersey.

USA Today/United Soccer Coaches: No. 7 in Region III.

Star-Ledger: No. 2 in New Jersey, No. 2 Non-Public Schools and No. 1 Essex County.