NYU Claims ECAC Metro Championship in Shootout
Playing its third game in three days to end the season, the New York University men's soccer team captured the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Metro Championship on Sunday, November 11, at Gaelic Park in Riverdale, NY.
After the title game between the fourth-seeded Violets (12-7-2) and second-seeded Richard Stockton College (12-7-3) ended in a 1-1 draw, NYU won the ECAC title on a penalty kick shootout. Led by ECAC Metro Most Outstanding Player Kyle Green, the Violets went 2-0-1 in three days to end 2012 as champions.
Highlights
- After a scoreless first half, the Ospreys took the lead in the 58th minute. Anthony Fiorletti played a throw-in to Matt Jenne, who sent a hard cross in front that was tapped in by Anthony Procopio.
- NYU netted the equalizer with just 5:26 left in regulation. Chris Ramirez lofted a pass to Danny Weisbaum on the right side of the box. Weisbaum then laid it off to Billy Cordova, who buried a shot to the left post.
- Richard Stockton took nine shots in the two overtime periods, but Forrest Sexton stopped the only one that was on target. Sexton finished with six saves in goal, including a huge point-blank stop midway through the second half.
- Niki Chow, Green, Mac Yumoto, and Cordova all hit their attempts in the shootout. The Ospreys' final two penalty kicks both sailed high over the crossbar, ending the shootout at 4-2 and giving NYU the ECAC Metro Championship.
- Green earned Most Oustanding Player honors for the tournament after setting up the game winner in the Violets' quarterfinal win over Ramapo College and scoring the game winner in the team's 2-0 semifinal victory over the College of Staten Island. The senior ended his decorated NYU career ranked third in school history in career points (75), fourth in goals (31) and fifth in assists (13).
"It was great to get to play these three ECAC games to turn our season around and end it as champions," said Head Coach Joe Behan. "Kyle Green was outstanding in leading us to the title."
