Men's Soccer Defeats NYU 2-1 to Remain Unbeaten in Conference Play
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Riverdale, N.Y., October 14, 2011 — The No. 7 Washington University in St. Louis men’s soccer team improved its overall record to 11-1 and maintained its hold on sole possession of first place in the University Athletic Association (UAA) by picking up a 2-1 win over the defending conference champion New York University Violets on Friday afternoon in Riverdale, N.Y.
Washington University is off to a 3-0 start in conference play for just the fourth time in school history and the first since the 2001 season. The Bears also improve to 20-4-1 all-time against New York.
Senior Dylan Roman provided Washington University with a lead very early in the game, scoring a breakaway goal just three minutes into the action, his team-leading seventh of the season. Roman took advantage of a misplay by the New York defense, taking away the mishandled back pass that he buried in the lower right corner.
New York made it a 1-1 game heading into the half when Dillane Colm found Joseph Lee with a cross for a close-range header in the 40th minute, but the Bears were able to keep New York off the scoreboard for the rest of the game.
Junior forward Kenji Kobayashi scored the game-winning goal in the 68th minute. Senior midfielder Cody Costakis delivered the assist off of a corner kick, his second assist off a set corner in as many games. Costakis’ long cross found Kobayashi in the box for a header that ultimately proved to be the game winner.
The goal was Kobayashi’s second of the season and his first-career game winner. Costakis dished out his fifth assist of the year, which ties for first on the team and second in the UAA.
NYU’s best chance to tie the game came with just under 20 minutes to play in the game. Sophomore goalkeeper Jonathan Jebson made a diving save on an Ian Cassell shot from the left side and the Bears managed to clear the ball out of harms way before New York could corral the rebound. Jebson made two saves on the day and improved to 11-1 on the season.
Washington U. (11-1, 3-0 UAA) concludes its three-game conference road trip on Sunday, Oct. 16, when it faces Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., at 11 a.m. (ET).