SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. -  The Lafayette women's soccer team opened its 2023 campaign with an impressive 4-1 win over Seton Hall on Thursday. The Leopards' victory over Seton Hall was the second in program history over the Pirates and the fourth win against a Big East conference member. 

Lafayette wasted no time getting into the scoring column, when in the seventh minute senior Sara Oswald split two Pirate defenders and rocketed a shot to the lower left corner of the goal, past Seton Hall goalkeeper Morgan Fedosiewich.

The Pirates' best opportunity to score in the first half came in the 41^st minute, as Phoebe Hampson blasted a shot from just outside the box. Lafayette senior goalkeeper Lindsay Dewar punched the shot away, but it then ricocheted to Seton Hall's Caroline Lipton, who sent a laser right back at Dewar, who again stepped up to make a save.

In the 44^th minute, Lafayette doubled its lead. Junior Lucy McShane triggered a set piece from the right sideline, which ping-ponged off multiple Leopards before it was knocked into the goal by sophomore Katrina Santelli, to give the Leopards a 2-0 lead. McShane was credited with an assist on the goal.

In the 78^th minute, a through-ball by junior Alexa Jindal found senior Emily Coe, who chipped a crossing pass to freshman Ava Murphy. Murphy put the ball in the back of the net for her first collegiate goal.

The Pirates responded with a goal of their own in the 84^th minute, when Adria Kitzinger scored on assists from Chiara Pucci and Abby Hall. Later in the 84^th minute, Lafayette's Oswald was fouled at the edge of the box trying to track down a long pass, which resulted in a penalty kick. Senior Rory Schauder took the penalty shot, scoring on a low line-drive to the bottom right corner of the goal and extending the Leopard lead to the final 4-1 advantage.

Lafayette and Seton Hall both finished the evening with 12 shots. The Leopards had six shots on goal and Seton Hall had five. Freshman Nadia Zaffanella led the Leopards with three shots, while Jindal and Oswald both took a pair of shots. Junior Michaela Salvati, senior Melissa Lamanna, Santelli, Schauder and Murphy all took one shot.

Dewar started the match for Lafayette and played the full 90 minutes, recording four saves. Fedosiewich, also played 90 minutes and recorded two saves for the Pirates.  

The Leopards return to Easton on Sunday for the inaugural match at Gummeson Grounds: Home of Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium, facing Mount St. Mary's at 2 p.m. on Community Day.