Box Score

The New York University men's soccer team played #25 Montclair State University to a 1-1 draw in a back-and-forth, physical battle on Sunday, September 4, at the MSU Soccer Park in Montclair, NJ.

Adam Fein connected with Paolo Luciano to give the Violets (0-1-1) the lead just 16:20 into the game. But Maxx Wurzburger scored on a pass from Kevin Brown to bring the Red Hawks (1-0-1) even in the 62nd minute.

Both sides came within inches of winning the game late. Montclair State's Pablo Zegarra hit the post with a wide-open net in front of him with just 32 seconds left in regulation, while a low cross right in front of the net was just out of reach of a sliding Kyle Green with 2:20 left in the second overtime.

“It was a good performance,” said NYU head coach Joe Behan. “We fought very hard and at times were able to get down in good attacking position. We need to work harder on the physical part, but it was an improvement from Friday.”

After NYU and Montclair State, squads that both reached the NCAA Division III Championship last season, felt each other out in the early stages, the Violets took the early advantage in the 17th minute. Fein collected the ball on the right side of the box and played a cross to Luciano, who made a run toward the near post. Luciano flicked the ball off the outside of his left foot, sneaking it between the goalkeeper and the post.

Moments later, Violet goalkeeper Jonah Poster made a huge stop to keep the Red Hawks off the board. Kevin Zalewski sent a pass to a cutting Sean Pauls, who had his man beat, in the box. But Poster charged, slid and got his hands on Pauls' shot to make a remarkable save.

NYU's chance to put Montclair State away was erased when Wurzburger scored early in the second half. The Violets couldn't clear a corner, and Brown collected the loose ball on the left edge of the box and dropped a pass for Wurzburger, who blasted a low shot to the far right corner just out of the diving Poster's reach.

From there, the Red Hawks continued to pressure and nearly won the game in the final minute of regulation. On a last scramble, Zalewski was fed a ball that left him all alone on the left side. He found his way past the charging Poster and slipped a pass to a wide-open Zegarra. But Zegarra's shot struck the post, allowing NYU to escape to overtime.

The Violets had the best chance of either extra session in the second overtime period. Anthony Baini played a high ball to Matt Newman on the right endline, and Newman fed a ball to a cutting Green directly in front of the net. With a defender draped on him, Green slid for the pass, but it was just a touch too far and went out of bounds.

“We were inches away,” commented Behan. “In the end, though, a tie was probably a fair result.”

The Violets return to action on Thursday for their third straight road game, at William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm.