No. 17 Tartans Defeat NYU 2-1 in Final Home Game

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The No. 17 Carnegie Mellon University women's soccer team defeated New York University 2-1 on Sunday, October 20 in its final home game of the season to move to 8-2-2 on the year and 2-1-1 in the University Athletic Association. The Violets fall to 6-5-3 and 0-2-2 in the UAA.

The Tartans scored on their first opportunity of the game when senior Alex Venegas (Los Angeles, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) finished a pass across the box by junior Savina Reid (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Briarcliff) in the fourth minute. The goal marked Venegas's first of the year in just four games played.

Carnegie Mellon had another three shots on goal in the next 13 minutes but all were stopped by Violet keeper Cassie Steinberg.

Melissa Menta put a free kick on goal for the Violets in the 30th minute that senior keeper Anna Albi (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day) had no problems securing.

In the 43rd minute, the Tartans added to their advantage when junior Amanda So (Fairfax Station, Va./Lake Braddock Secondary) headed in a free kick by senior Brittany Couture (Santa Barbara, Calif./Santa Barbara). Couture's free kick was right of the net and inside 10 yards. She put it to the near post where So met it before Steinberg was able to punch it away and it bounced to the net.

In the 61st minute, Albi saved a shot by Sofia Toohey that was headed to the near post. Albi dove in front of her defender to swat it away.

The Violets were able to cut the Tartan lead in half in the 73rd minute when Menta finished a shot over Albi who challenged a ball over the defense at the corner of the 18-yard box. Leslie Smith served a long ball from the center of her own defensive third through the Tartan defense to the right side. Menta got in behind the defense and got to the free ball before Albi could secure it with a slide.

Albi later made a save in the final seconds as she stopped a shot by Julie Glover to secure her 30th career win. Albi now holds the program's all-time career record for wins.

The Tartans will next face Case Western Reserve University on Friday, November 1 in Cleveland, Ohio at 7:30 p.m.