NYU Takes Down #2 Emory
Erin Ahmed's goal in the 109th minute lifted the New York
University women's soccer team to a thrilling 1-0 double-overtime
victory over Emory University, the top-ranked team in Division III,
on Sunday, October 28, at Gaelic Park in Riverdale, NY.
The Violets (10-6-1, 2-3-1) handed the #1 Eagles (11-1-5, 3-1-2)
their first loss of 2012. The defeat was also Emory's first in both
the regular season and the University Athletic Association (UAA) in
more than two years.
In beating the Eagles for the first time in 18 tries, NYU moved up
to fifth place in the UAA standings with one game left. Emory fell
to third, while #5 Washington University clinched the UAA
Championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Highlights
- Ahmed's game-winning goal came on a counter with just 1:28 left
in the second and final overtime period. Leslie Smith fed Ahmed in
the middle, and she took one touch and placed a left-footed shot to
the far post.
- The Violets nearly scored just 14 minutes into the game, when
Cami Crawford made a long run at goal on a counter and chipped a
shot over the charging keeper and off the crossbar.
- NYU also had a great chance in the 60th minute, when Serra Tumay
played a pass forward to Claire Shanahan in the box. But, Kaele
Leonard dove and stopped Shanahan's shot.
- Despite facing a total of 31 shots, the Violet defense kept the
Eagles off the board. Meg Patten made eight saves in goal to record
the shutout, while defender Madeline Clappin contributed a huge
defensive save on the goal line midway through the second OT.
- Though NYU was ultimately outshot 31-12, the Violets put the
same number of shots on frame (eight) as Emory.
"I am so proud of the effort the team put into our performance
today," said Head Coach Michele Canning. "I give the players a
tremendous amount of credit for their hard work, determination and
ability to stick to the plan for the game. It was a solid win
against a great team."
NYU plays its final regular season game on Saturday, November 3,
against UAA rival Brandeis University. The contest, which is also a
Tear It Up! event, begins at 11:00 am.