The University of Delaware men’s soccer team dropped its non-conference match to Seton Hall University, 2-1, Wednesday night at Delaware Mini Stadium, behind an offensive flurry in the first half of the match.

The match had been moved to Wednesday from Tuesday, Sept.r 18, due to weather concerns.

Delaware (2-5-1) dropped its first match in three outings at home this season while Seton Hall (4-4) claimed its first road victory of the year.

“I thought our guys played very well and maybe good enough to win tonight, but it wasn’t meant to be,” said Delaware head coach Ian Hennessy. “Credit Seton Hall in taking the opportunities they did to come away with the victory.”

Delaware got on the board first at the 4:19 mark of the first half as UD junior forward Roberto Gimenez, the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year, claimed his first goal of the season after he smashed the ball into an arching shot from 35-yards away into the upper right corner of Seton Hall’s goal.

The Pirates knotted the score at 1-1 at the 24:08 mark of the first half when Christian Battistesa used some fancy footwork inside the Blue Hens’ penalty box to draw UD goalkeeper Jay Lupas out of position. Battistesa then knocked a low line-drive shot into the back of Delaware’s net.

Seton Hall would tally the eventual game-winning goal 36 minutes into the match after a helpful assist from Konrad Plewa to forward Max Garcia, who scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season after he kicked the ball into the top-right corner of the net.

Delaware outshot Seton Hall, 13-4, with the Blue Hen duo of Joe Dipre and Vincent Mediate leading the way with four shots on goal apiece. Seton Hall’s Garcia and John Gurel led the Pirates with each collecting two shots on goal.

“I credit Seton Hall’s goalkeeper in the second half, he was very strong in making multiple saves,” Hennessy added. “Like most things in this wonderful game, if you don’t execute well you will suffer.”

Pirates goalkeeper Michael Kuzan earned his second win of the season behind 13 saves. Delaware’s Lupas collected four saves in defeat.

The Blue Hens will be off for the next week and will return to the soccer field on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. when Delaware travels to Easton, Pa. to tackle the Lafayette University Leopards at Oaks Stadium.

Delaware begins Colonial Athletic Association action on Saturday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m. as the Blue Hens travel to Atlanta to square off against Georgia State at the GSU Soccer Field.

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