The New York University Men's Soccer Team remained undefeated in 2021, raising its record to 5-0-1 with a 2-0 win over host Stevens on Saturday, September 18, in Hoboken, NJ. 

NYU did not wait long to take the lead in the game, scoring just 6:02 into the contest when Talal Said (Amman, Jordan/King's Academy) recorded his first goal of the season off an assist from from Alex Rovirosa-Illa (Llinars del Valles, Barcelona/Hamelin Laie International ).

"Scoring early is a huge advantage," said Head Coach Kim Wyant. "The guys are laser focused. We are playing with a lot of a passion and intensity." 

Said was also greatly responsible for the Violets' second goal, which was achieved early in the second half (51:57). He drove the ball in, crossed it over to Oliver Kleban (Denver, CO/Blind Brook) who headed it in past Stevens' keeper Aedan Boriotti.

"I am very happy for the team and it's great to be the person to help the team win today," Said explained. "We go deep into the roster and everyone is putting everything they have out on the field and that's a big factor in how we're performing. Everyone's hungry. We've been working hard in practice and it's showing in the games."

It was the Violets' fifth shutout of the season and the team's fifth straight win after an opening-day 0-0 tie with Rutgers-Camden.

NYU keeper Luca Mancuso (Miami, FL/Montverde Academy) saved all seven shots he faced as the Ducks (3-2-1) out-shot the Violets 13-11.

"It's a been a real team effort, from the center back all the way back to the goalkeeper," said Louis Meeks (Ann Arbor, MI/Greenhills School), one of the Violets' staunch defenders. "We've been working really hard on communication and really organizing   defensively, concentrating on some of the more minute aspects of when other teams are attacking. We are working on all the little things and fixing whatever weaknesses we find."

The Violets return to the pitch this Tuesday, September 21, when they host Hunter College at 7:00pm at Gaelic Park in the Bronx.