NEWARK, NJ – The University of Rochester men's soccer team posted a 2-0 shutout against NYU on Saturday evening, picking up its first University Athletic Association win this season at NJIT's Lubetkin Field.
 
Johnny Makula scored an early goal for the Yellowjackets (7-2-4, 1-0-1 UAA) and Rochester later benefitted from an NYU own goal for an insurance tally in the final ten minutes.
 
Rochester controlled the game statistically, leading 24-14 in shots and 9-2 in corners, but NYU goalkeeper Jackson McCloskey made eight saves on the night to keep the Violets (2-7-1, 0-2-0 UAA) within striking distance.
 
After an early shot by Milos Bisenic sailed wide, the Yellowjacket got the early lead on the first shot on target during the game.
 
A long pass came up the field from the backline to Will Fallona in NYU territory. After dribbling toward the box, Fallona dropped a pass back to Makula who evaded a defender and ripped a shot inside the right post from the edge of the box for the 1-0 Yellowjacket lead.
 
With 21 minutes left in the opening half, graduate student Kamal Ibrahim had two terrific chances to increase the URochester lead, but McCloskey came up with a pair of point-blank saves following the shot and rebound from in close along the right wing.
 
In the 35th minute, Bisenic took a hard, curling shot toward the left post from 20 yards, but McCloskey came up with another save, diving to his right to keep the score 1-0.
 
Less than 90 seconds into the second half, Bisenic came up with two more chances to score, streaking in from the left side to take a hard shot at the center of the net. McCloskey again made the save, with the rebound coming right back out to Bisenic who followed up his initial shot with an attempt that went wide.
 
McCloskey continued his strong play for the Violets in goal over the next several minutes, stopping two attempts from Makula along with another shot from Alessio Cristanetti-Walker.
 
NYU's first shot on goal came in the 58th minute, coming off the foot of Giulio Potenti. Potenti's turnaround shot from the edge of the box was saved by UR keeper Ben Ziegler in net.
 
After the rebound was corralled by NYU, a centering pass back to Potenti saw the NYU player attempt another shot, but this time the 'Jacket defense was able to get in front of it for the block, eventually clearing the ball away.
 
Ten minutes later, Ziegler came up with his best save of the night on a flick volley attempt by Terra Nagai from the eight yards in the center of the box.
 
As the clock ticked under eight minutes remaining, Rochester saw its lead double to 2-0 on an NYU own goal. After the Yellowjackets countered into the NYU zone, a Violet defender secured possession and dropped a pass back to McCloskey who missed a long kick attempt and instead clipped the ball with the top of his foot and watched it spin backwards into his own net.
 
The insurance tally gave URochester some breathing room with the 'Jacket defense holding the Violets without a shot the rest of the game. The shutout victory was Rochester's fourth of the season.
 
Up next on the schedule for the Yellowjackets is a home matchup next Saturday morning against Brandeis University, with kickoff set for 11 a.m. on October 18.