Box Score

The #24 New York University men's soccer team played #12 Washington University to a 0-0 draw – breaking the school record for consecutive scoreless minutes in the process – on Sunday, October 31, in St. Louis, MO, to remain alone in first place in the University Athletic Association (UAA) with one game remaining.

 

The draw with the second-place Bears (13-1-4, 3-1-2) gave the Violets (10-2-4, 3-0-3) 12 points in the UAA, putting them one ahead of both Washington and Emory University, who defeated Case Western Reserve University 2-0 on Sunday. NYU now controls its own destiny going into the final weekend of regular season play – if it defeats Brandeis University on Saturday, it will claim its first UAA championship in school history.

 

“The work rate of the team today was outstanding, and we more than held our own against one of the top teams in the country,” said head coach Joe Behan. “More importantly, we left ourselves atop the UAA and are in position to win it.”

 

Once again, the Violets' defense was nearly impenetrable. Goalkeeper Matt Stieve needed to make just two saves to record his sixth straight shutout and NYU's sixth in as many UAA games. Behind Stieve and the back four, the Violets extended their consecutive scoreless streak to 625:25 – breaking the previous school record of 571:02, set by the 2005 squad that climbed as high as #8 in the national rankings.

 

“Breaking school records in a season usually comes with postseason success,” commented Behan. “It's an achievement to go all those minutes without giving up a goal, especially on the road against Chicago and Washington.”

 

No play was bigger in extending the streak and ultimately giving the Violets the draw than Stieve's save with just 2:42 remaining in the second half. The Bears' leading scorer, Patrick McLean, beat his man on the left side of the box and struck a perfectly-placed shot toward the top of the net. But Stieve jumped and extended his right arm as high as he could to punch the ball over the crossbar and keep Washington off the board.

 

Stieve's other save, also a tremendous one, came 1:19 into the second overtime. The Bears played a free kick into the box that Brian Wright headed from point-blank range. But Stieve made the save with his hands and then smothered the rebound.

 

The Violets' best chances both came on headers in front of the goal. In the 18th minute, Colm Dillane curled a free kick into the box that Paolo Luciano got his head on despite being draped by a defender. But the sophomore's attempt traveled just over the crossbar.

 

In the 61st minute, Michael Burke played a ball into the box that Kyle Green jumped for and headed – the first shot on frame for either side in a physical, back-and-forth game in which both defenses were stifling – but the try was stopped by keeper Jonathan Jebson.

 

NYU's defense continued to shine throughout both overtimes as Washington pressed to score, knowing that if the game ended in a draw it would not control its own fate on the season's final weekend. But the Violets held the Bears off the board to finish the difficult Chicago-St. Louis road trip with four of six possible points – the first time they have ever accomplished the feat.

 

“To get four out of six on the road against those two teams – you have to take that,” said Behan. “And to still have not given up a goal in six UAA games is a very good achievement.”

 

NYU will have an even bigger achievement on its mind on Saturday against Brandeis, as it will be eyeing its first UAA Championship and an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The game will be played at Gaelic Park in Riverdale beginning at 1:30 pm.