Tartans Defeat NYU in Double Overtime

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Sophomore Chris Wysocki (Newtown, Pa./Germantown Academy) used his head to score the game-winner in double overtime to send the Carnegie Mellon University men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over visiting New York University on Friday, October 28, in Pittsburgh. The Tartans move to 6-7-1  overall and 2-3 in the University Athletic Association. The Violets drop to 7-7-1 and 2-3.

The Tartans put four shots on goal in the first period, all to be denied by Forrest Sexton. Sophomore Scott Gerfen (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) gave the Tartans their first opportunity in the third minute when he sent a shot to the far post that Sexton had to push away with one hand. Freshman Mark Nicholas (Metuchen, N.J./Hun School of Princeton) laced a shot in the 25th minute that was mid-height but right at Sexton and sophomore Max Tassano (Bala Cynwyd, Pa./Lower Merion) sent in a shot from eight yards out with the outside of his foot that Sexton stopped.

In the 65th minute, the Tartans earned a free kick just outside of midfield. Freshman Jakob Rohwer (South Borough, Mass./Philips Academy Andover) took the kick which got by Sexton for a one-goal lead. The ball bounced inside the six-yard box and over two Tartan players that ended up shielding Sexton's view.

Senior Kyle Young (Bethel Park, Pa.) earned a penalty kick for the Tartans in the 74th minute when he was taken down just to the left of the six-yard box. Wysocki's strike hit the crossbar to keep the score at 1-0 for the Tartans.

In the 85th minute, New York was awarded a free kick which was sent inside by Paolo Luciano. The kick popped off the wall and to the far upper 90 where sophomore keeper Christopher Madden (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall) knocked it down. A wild affair ensued and New York's Nimo Freitag Bergstroem ended up poking the ball in the net for the equalizer.

In the first overtime, junior Alex Abedian (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) got by the defense in the second minute and sent a low pass across the goal mouth but the Tartans were unable to deflect it into the open net.

Just over two minutes in the second overtime the Tartans got forward with senior Carmen Minella (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) laying off a pass to Young. Young then sent a driving cross through the box that Wysocki ran onto and headed to goal for the game-winner.

The Tartans will continue the season with their last home game on Sunday, October 30, against Brandeis University.