Game Program

Photo Gallery

    POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 14, 2013) – Three first half goals proved to be just enough as the Vassar College women's soccer team was bested by New York University on Saturday afternoon, 3-2 at Gordon Field.

    Cami Crawford got the game-winning goal for the Violets at 16:28 when she received a long pass from Leslie Smith from about 20 yards out. Crawford took the pass, turned and drove around a Brewer defender for the one-on-one shot against freshman goalkeeper, Stephanie Tapolsky.

    Erin Ahmed got things rolling for NYU when she beamed a shot at Tapolsky from 25 yards out. The ball had so much top spin on it, that it hit the gloves of Tapolsky and rolled up and over into the middle of the net at 3:02. A little over three minutes later at 6:44, Imani Ribadeneyra took a shot from the left of the goal that was easily deflected by Tapolsky. Unfortunately, the deflection landed in front of Amelia Hammerl who drove the ball into the back right corner for the 2-0 lead before Crawford's game winner.

    Sophomore Kamaria Coley began the Brewer comeback and sparked the offense when fellow sophomore Lucy Brainerd sent a pass from about half field to Coley. Coley received the pass from about 30 yards out and after some fancy footwork around a Violet defender, beat NYU goalie, Arianna Strome. Coley's goal at 24:04 ruined any chance of an NYU shutout and ignited the offense as that was the Brewers' first shot of the game.

    Senior Sheeva Seyfi almost had a goal in the first half when a defensive foul on NYU allowed Brainerd the chance to put the ball in front of the net where Seyfi was waiting. Seyfi's ability to win the high ball was shown as she got her head to the ball before anyone else, but her shot went narrowly to the left of the goal.

    The Brewers came out of halftime full of energy as they immediately took six shots within the first 15 minutes. One of those shots was another Seyfi header which was saved by the relief goalkeeper of NYU, Cassie Steinberg.

    After back-and-forth play between the two teams with the Violets still enjoying their two-goal lead, Seyfi finally found the back of the net at 84:09. Though it wasn't a header, but was a rifled shot from 15 yards out that left no chance for Steinberg to stop it. Seyfi had looked around the Brewer offense for an open teammate, but the Violet defense stuck tight. Seyfi made the decision to hold the ball and take it from outside of the 18 and around two defenders, bringing Vassar within one.

    With only six minutes left in regulation, neither team was able to find ground offensively as turnovers and slow play along the sidelines made it difficult for either team to make it to the other side of the pitch.

    Strome picked up the win for the Violets in her half of play, allowing only one goal. Steinberg came in for two saves while Maddy Clappin earned a defensive save in the second half. Tapolsky got the loss for the Brewers, allowing all three goals and had one save. Sophomore Emma Nichols came in at the start of the second half for two saves.

    Both teams were nearly equal offensively as Vassar outshot NYU, 13-12 while the six of the Violets shots were on goal compared to Vassar's 5. NYU recorded five fouls to Vassar's three. Vassar held the advantage in corner kicks, 2-1.

    The Brewers (2-2-1) will next host Plattsburgh State on Sunday, September 15 at 1:00 pm. The Violets (3-1-1) will next host Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 19.