Box Score

Erin Ahmed's penalty-kick goal lifted the New York University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over the Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday night, September 3, at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, NJ.

The Violets (2-0) were awarded the penalty kick after Cami Crawford was taken down in the box following a long run. Though Ducks' goalkeeper Kelly Teegan guessed right on Ahmed's PK, diving to her left, the sophomore's hard strike hit her hands and found the back of the net.

“We worked on PKs in preseason, and I knew Erin was really confident taking them,” said NYU head coach Michele Canning. “As soon as they made the call, she looked over, and I knew she wanted to take it.”

Ahmed's goal helped snap NYU's five-game losing streak against Stevens (0-2), a squad that reached the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship last season and received votes in this year's D3soccer.com Preseason Top 25 Poll. The victory was the Violets' first over the Ducks since a 1-0 triumph in the 2001 ECAC Metro Tournament.

It was far from an easy one, however, with both sides going back and forth and Stevens ultimately owning a 24-14 advantage in shots. But NYU's two freshmen goalkeepers, Meg Patten and Jen Chuck, both came up huge in net to combine for the shutout.

Playing the first half, Patten made three saves between the pipes, including a tremendous diving stop on a free kick from 25 yards out.

Chuck entered to start the second half and totaled six saves as the Ducks fought hard to tie the score. Her biggest stop came with just over 15 minutes to play, as Kathleen Schuckers made a great deke to get an open look from just outside the six. But Chuck turned away the near-point-blank shot, and Stevens failed to get another shot on net from then on.

“Both are at such at a high level,” noted Canning of Patten and Chuck. “Both really believe in their ability and in the team. They really came through big for us tonight.”

Defender Tara Kiernan also came through with a big save for NYU in the first half. Schuckers played a corner into the box, and Bridgette Barden got off a hard shot that was headed for the far left corner. But Kiernan was waiting on the goal line and blocked the shot away, saving a goal.

Several Violets had great chances at netting goals of their own, including two by Ashley McKenzie. The junior nearly scored immediately after Ahmed's tally, getting free and ripping a shot that traveled just wide right. She also had a great opportunity on a short pass from Megan Young, who got free on the endline. But McKenzie's shot was blocked by a defender.

In the end, though, Ahmed's PK goal, strong performances from both rookie goalkeepers and contributions from everyone who stepped on the field were enough for NYU to pull out the critical road victory.

“I'm so proud of how they worked,” commented Canning on her players. “They made all the adjustments we asked, stuck to the game plan and finished the game out. It took every person on the team to get through and get this win on the road against a good Stevens team in an exciting atmosphere.”

The Violets will return to the De Baun Athletic Complex next weekend to take part in the Stevens Engineering Cup. They will face Ohio Northern University on Saturday at 2:00 pm and Ursinus College on Sunday at 3:00 pm.