After defeating Drew 1-0 yesterday, the New York University Women's Soccer Team hosted Sarah Lawrence College on Sunday, September 19, at Gaelic Park. The Violets downed the Gryphons, 3-0, improving their record to 3-2 and earning their second shutout of the season.
NYU wasted no time getting ahead, as
Spritle Hirano (Seattle, WA/West Seattle) fired a shot into the back of the net from the left side of the box just two minutes in. The Violets' offensive aggressiveness matched their defensive prowess in the first half, outshooting SLC 15-0 before halftime.
Dominique Bevacqua (Parsippany, NJ/Mount Saint Dominic Academy) made it 2-0 in the 36th minute with a strike that banged off the left post before rolling into the goal. It was the sophomore's first-career tally.
The Violets attempted five corner kicks in the first, while Sarah Lawrence had none, and NYU led 9-1 in corners for the game. Senior
Rachel O'Keefe (Shrewsbury, MA/Worcester Academy) and the defense didn't allow the Gryphons much breathing room all game, limiting the visitors to two shots throughout.
An insurance score came early in the second half (51') as
Samantha Rathe (Davie, FL/American Heritage School Plantation) netted her first collegiate goal, stealing the ball from a defender in the box and scoring from 10 feet out on the right side.
"We're happy with the work ethic and the amount of effort the players put into the game," said Head Coach
Michele Canning. "We tried to make some improvements from yesterday on some of our attacking chemistry and I think we saw that in some of the chances we created."
The Violets had a healthy amount of chances in this one, getting off 31 shots (17 on goal), led by Bevacqua's five attempts and
Gabriella Funk's (Fremont, CA/Irvington) four. NYU Goalkeeper
Riley Felsher (Pennington, NJ/Princeton Day School) earned her second shutout and second victory of the season in the net.
NYU is back in action on Wednesday, September 22, welcoming William Paterson University to Gaelic Park for a 7:30 pm kickoff.
