SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Eva Gonzalez converted a penalty kick into the left side of the goal 71:49 into Thursday night's non-conference match, giving Seton Hall University a 1-0 victory over visiting Loyola University Maryland.
 
The Pirates (1-1-1 overall) earned the penalty when after a Greyhounds' defender collided with a Seton Hall player while vying for a loose ball inside the 18. Gonzalez struck the ball from left-to-right, and it went just past the diving reach of Loyola goalkeeper Sumer Rahe.
 
Rahe finished the game with a match-high eight saves as both teams took 13 shots.

"I thought we played really well for a good portion of the game," said Head Coach Naomi Meiburger. "The team did everything we asked of them and created a lot of opportunities to score. If we can keep pushing forward I really feel this group is going to find success. The result is a tough one to swallow tonight, to lose on a PK, but I know this group is resilient and we have another opportunity at home now on Sunday."
 
Seton Hall controlled possession in the opening 20 minutes, but the Greyhounds (0-3-0) then turned the momentum later in the first half.
 
After an Ann-Kathrin Wolfram shot was blocked in the 27^th minute, Kate Reese made a nifty move just outside the box to get free to strike a lefty shot from 16 yards that slipped just outside the near post in the 32^nd minute.
 
In between those shots, Rahe made a save on an Izzy Engel shot, the last Pirates attempt of the first half.
 
Loyola had a pair of corner kicks in the 38^th and 39^th minutes, wrapped around a Sarah Ensor shot that was saved by Seton Hall's Anna MacLean. Then, in the 42^nd minute, Hannah Hoefs took a shot for the Greyhounds that was wide.
 
The Greyhounds continued the pressure in the second half as Jourdan Ziff had two shots saved in the span of four seconds in the 60^th minute. Beth Eversman and Mia Sardella then had attempts saved by MacLean saved in the 68^th and 69^th minutes.
 
After conceding the penalty, Loyola had an opportunity from just outside the six in the 83^rd minute. The Greyhounds were awarded an indirect kick from just outside the left side of the six-yard box, but Hoefs' strong attempt was blocked by a Pirates defender.
 
Hoefs then had a header from the far post off a Sardella corner kick in the 85^th minute, but it slipped just wide of the far post.

The Greyhounds open their home slate on Sunday, August 26, when they take on Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania) at 4 p.m. at Ridley Athletic Complex.