The New York University men's soccer team defeated Sarah Lawrence College 3-2 in Yonkers, NY, on Wednesday, October 2. 

The Violets are now 5-1-2 heading into their first University Athletic Association conference match this weekend.

"These midweek games against these opponents that get excited to play us and look forward to playing us will always be challenging," said Head Coach Kim Wyant. "I don't think they earned goals against us, we made a few mistakes." 

Sarah Lawrence drew first blood, scoring in the 18th minute. However, the Violets equalized in the 32nd minute with Nathan Bennett's fifth goal of the season. Julian Recio dribbled the ball past midfield before being tackled from behind, but Bennett picked up the loose ball on the right side of the box and shot it across goal.

After half-time, it took the Violets only 12 minutes to score the go-ahead goal. Bennett was involved again, receiving the ball on the right wing to square it across to Terra Nagai. Nagai took a touch, and slotted it in the bottom left corner for his fourth goal of the season, one more than last season's tally. 

However, the game was on edge, with the Gryphons having multiple chances to tie the game up. The momentum culminated in a penalty kick awarded to Sarah Lawrence, which it promptly converted to tie the game.

The Violets went ahead again in the 77th minute, with a Felipe Remon free kick finding Bennett, who headed home the goal for his second of the game. 

In the 82nd minute, NYU conceded an indirect free kick, which goalkeeper Jackson McCloskey saved, but was unable to keep out the rebound. Fortunately for the Violets, the goal was taken off the board for an offside call. 

"Nathan had a really good game and came through with two clutch goals for us," Wyant continued. "At halftime, we told the team to focus on his side because he had the more favorable match up."

The Violets will next travel to Cleveland, OH, to play Case Western Reservice University in their first UAA matchup this Saturday, October 5, at 1:30pm.

"It's going to be tough traveling and competing. Its going to be our third game in six days," said Wyant. "But we are going to take it game by game and focus on being present, playing to our high standards."