Seton Hall knocks off No. 3 Georgetown

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -- Behind senior Andrew LoManto's score in the 69th minute, Seton Hall picked up its most impressive win of the season, blanking No. 3 Georgetown, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at Owen T. Carroll Field.

On a play that began in the midfield, redshirt senior Victor Manosalvas sent sophomore Shawn Morrison on a long run toward the end line down the right side.

The speedy Pirate defender chased down the pass and controlled only a yard or two from the end line, sending a centering pass with his left foot back to the middle of the field.

LoManto, who was wide open coming in 15-yards out from net, received the pass and fired a low shot toward the far post, past a diving Tomas Gomez for the score. It was LoManto's first goal of the season, third of his career, and the second time he netted a game-winner for The Hall.

Seton Hall's (4-6-3, 1-3-1) impressive win was the first against a top-five team since the Pirates defeated No. 3 Connecticut at Owen T. Carroll Field on Oct. 30, 2011, but it is the highest ranked foe to fall to SHU since head coach Gerson Echeverry took over prior to the 2012 season.

The Pirates had lost six-straight to Georgetown (7-3-4, 2-2-1) and seven of the last eight, picking up their first win over the Hoyas since back in 2006, and the first home victory in the series since 2005. SHU has now defeated at least one ranked opponent for the fourth-straight season.

With the win, Seton Hall strengthened its position in the race to qualify for the BIG EAST tournament, a distinction reserved for the top-six teams in the conference. With four conference matches remaining, the Pirates currently have four points and sit in a tie for fifth place with Marquette, Villanova, DePaul and Butler.

The win would not have been possible without a stellar defensive effort and solid play in goal against one of the most potent offensive threats in the nation. Georgetown forward Brandon Allen entered the game ranked fifth in the country with nine goals, but was largely held in check after the first 20 minutes of action, and was limited to just one shot attempt.

Sophomore Julian Spindler tied his career high with eight saves, picking up his fifth shutout of the season and his first clean sheet against a Big East opponent in his career.

In the 54th minute, Spindler made one of his biggest saves, as he was there to make a stop on a close-range header from Jon Azzinnari, who was attempting to finish a cross near post directly in front of the net.

The Pirate keeper also came up big in the waning moments of the game, with the Hoyas scrambling to try and force overtime. In the 88th minute Austin Martz ripped a shot through the defense on frame, forcing Spindler to dive to his left to make the save. On a cross back into play Spindler kept up the aggressive play, punching the ball away, but not out of danger. In a last gasp effort, Jared Rist had a shot blocked and off the rebound Alex Muyl fired over the crossbar.