Box Score

The New York University women's soccer team could not hold on to an early lead and fell 3-1 to visiting Vassar College on Friday afternoon, September 16, at Gaelic Park in Riverdale, NY.

The Violets (3-2) took a 1-0 advantage exactly four minutes into the game on a free-kick goal from Serra Tumay. But the Brewers (3-3) responded just 2:02 later to tie the game and then added two more goals to earn their second straight victory over NYU.

“I think we got a little bit ahead of ourselves because we scored the early goal and then lost focus,” said Violet head coach Michele Canning. “We brought it together at halftime and fought really hard in the second half to try to change the game.”

Tumay netted NYU's early goal after the team was awarded a free kick to the left of the box. The junior bent a high shot toward the near post that hit goalkeeper Ali Higgins in the hands and found the back of the net.

The Violet lead was short-lived, however, as Kelsey Domb tied the score 2:02 later. Tessa Verbanic played a ball to the left side of the box that bounced off the turf and right to Domb, who headed it in over goalkeeper Meg Patten's head.

Vassar then took the lead in the 28th minute, on a nearly identical ball into the box by Sarah Bourenane. This time, Chloe Wheeler won it on the bounce and flicked a shot into the far right corner.

Sheeva Seyfi added to the Brewers' lead shortly out of halftime, netting a goal 5:49 seconds into the second stanza. She corralled a cross from Wheeler and shot at goal, where it hit Violet goalkeeper Jen Chuck and trickled in.

After being outshot 10-6 in the first half and facing a two-goal deficit, NYU fought hard to tie the game, keeping the ball in the Vassar end for much of the period and holding an 11-6 edge in shots in the half. But the Violets could not cut into the deficit.

Patten and Chuck combined for five saves between the pipes while splitting duties at goalkeeper. Forced to fill in for Higgins after she left with an injury on Tumay's goal, Lily Lanier – normally a midfielder – stepped in at goalkeeper for Vassar and made seven stops to earn the win.

NYU returns to action on Sunday when it travels to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham in Madison, NJ. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 pm.