Strong first half leads NYU men past Brandeis, 2-1

WALTHAM, Mass. – The New York University men's soccer team scored two first-half goals and hung on to defeat host Brandeis University, 2-1, on Gordon Field in a University Athletic Association (UAA) contest today.

NYU (11-6-1, 3-4-0 UAA) opened the scoring in the 20th minute when junior midfielder Antonio Trillo (Ozone Park, N.Y.) emerged from a scramble in front of the net and popped the ball past Brandeis senior Pat Makridakis (Mendon, Mass.). The goal was Trillo's second of the season.

The Violets doubled their lead in the 35th minute. Midfielder Jon Simos (Valley Stream, N.Y.) took an indirect kick from just beyond the midfield and put the ball into the box. Sophomore midfielder Jerritt Thayer (Corona Del Mar, Calif.) got a head on it and sent it home for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.

Brandeis (6-9-2, 0-5-2 UAA) came out much more intense in the second half. The Judges cut the lead in half in the 59th minute. Sophomore midfielder Adam Guttman (Brewster, Mass.) sent a ball deep to the end line. Classmate Evan Duval (Wilbraham, Mass.) ran it down and sent a perfect cross to the foot of rookie forward Ben Premo (Florence, Mass.), who one-timed it home for his 10th goal of the season. The Judges had one last fine chance in the 78th minute, but NYU rookie goalkeeper Chris Wright (Colchester,. Conn.) stoned Brandeis sophomore Brett Fitzgerald (Hubbardston, Mass.) to preserve the lead.

Makridkis made three saves in the first half and suffered the loss, while classmate Matt Kaplan (Melville, N.Y.) was untested in the second stanza. Wright made three stops for NYU.