The #17-ranked New York University men's soccer team dropped its first match of the 2026 season, falling 1-0 to #5 University of Chicago in the Violets' first University Athletic Association (UAA) contest of the campaign.
Played on NYU's home turf at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ, on Saturday, October 3, the contest remained scoreless until the final minute when the Maroons' Evan Kanellos netted the game-winner just seconds before the final whistle. He took a pass from Juan Carlos Bermudez and headed it past Violet keeper
Gabino Talisayon at the 89:26 mark.
"It's a dramatic way to lose a game," said Head Coach
Kim Wyant. "We feel terrible, A real gut punch."
The teams battled evenly throughout, with both registering five shots on goal.
Keyon Namdar took four of NYU's 10 shots, with three landing on net.
The Violets outshot the Maroons 10-8.
Talisayon and Chicago goalkeeper Ali Alamery were staunch between the pipes, making every crucial save until that final minute.
"I thought we controlled the game most of the way," Wyant added. "We have a great team and we will just have to keep building and getting better."
The Maroons are now 9-1-0 this season, while the Violets fall to 7-1-1.
NYU returns to the pitch next Saturday, October 10, for its first road UAA match-up. The Violets will play at the University of Rochester beginning at 11am.
