HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 1, 2009) – Senior forward Terrence Johnson scored two goals and senior captain Todd Sheridan netted another as the No. 2 Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team cruised past New York University, 3-1 to open the 2009 season. The Ducks took the lead at the 15:09 mark and never looked back, controlling the ball and the field for most of the contest. Junior goalkeeper Zach Carr earned his 37th career win in goal as Stevens held NYU scoreless until the 87th minute of action.
After a 50-50 game for the first five minutes, Stevens seized control of the field and ball, missing on several nice chances near the cage in the game's second five minutes.
The Ducks broke the scoreless tie at the 15:09 mark as Johnson headed home a pretty cross from freshman Zach Adler. Adler settled on right of the box, lifted a cross to Johnson who directed it in the lower-left corner of the goal for the score.
Sheridan scored the game's second tally 11:15 later on an assist from senior midfielder John Radvany, and it was clear the Ducks had the momentum. Though Stevens only outshot NYU 4-2 in the first half, the Ducks controlled the center of the field with strong passing and aggressive play from front to back. NYU did not put one shot on goal and really did not have a good scoring chance in the first half.
The second stanza saw much of the same as Stevens had several strong chances in front. NYU goalkeeper Marek Urbanski (Burlingame, Calif.) made several nice stops in front, but Johnson was able to score his seventh in the 82nd minute to put the game away. Junior Nolan Sandberg lofted a nice corner from the right corner and sophomore Anthony Roden put a great shot on goal. Urbanski made a diving stop but Johnson was in the right place at the right time to put in the rebound.
Earlier in the half, Carr thwarted NYU's best chances of the game by punching out a cross and knocking a shot over the crossbar, but eventually the Violets were able to get on the board. Junior Anthony Tumbiolo (San Diego, Calif.) ripped a free kick at the top-right corner of the goal and Carr was able to making a diving save. The ball ricocheted off the crossbar and rookie Kyle Green (Dallas, Texas) was there to put home the rebound. The tally came at the 87:36 mark.
Overall, the Ducks (1-0) controlled position for about 75 percent of the game. They finished with 17 shots and held NYU to seven. Stevens took six corners to NYU's one and Carr made a total of three saves.
NYU (0-1) will take on The City College of New York in its next game, and the Ducks will host the annual Stevens College Cup on Saturday and Sunday at the De Baun Athletic Complex. They will face Hunter College on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Rhode Island College on Sunday at the same time. Both games will be webcast live at www.Empire8.tv.
