The NYU soccer teams traveled to the Midwest this weekend for their first conference road trip of the season. The teams were in St. Louis on Friday night to take on the Washington University.

The NYU women were first to challenge the Bears, who are ranked 15th nationally in the latest poll. The game started quick with a few early chances, but neither team could capitalize, with the game ending in a scoreless tie. Action faded slowly as the game moved forward, and after a few big saves from senior goalkeeper Cassie Steinberg, the Violets held off a last minute surge and the game finished without a goal. It was a hard fought game for the Violets  and although they were outshot 20-13 overall, the Violets created some chances thanks to their two freshman forwards Alex Benedict and Isabelle Turner who combined for six shots.

The NYU men were not as lucky in St. Louis and the 10th ranked nationally Washington University got off to a fast start in route to a 4-0 victory. NYU conceded a penalty in the very first minute of play leading to the first goal of the game. Goalkeeper Lucas Doucette made a nice save on the penalty kick, but the rebound was tapped in by the Bears’ Ike Witte. WUSTL would not look back scoring three more goals and playing solid defense throughout the contest. NYU’s lone shot on goal came from senior forward Bryan Walsh.

Sunday did not get any easier for the Violets, as NYU made the short trip to Chicago to faceoff with the rival University of Chicago Maroons.

The women began the morning with a few early chances, but were unable to get the ball past the Chicago keeper. The Maroons found the back of the net early in the 25th minute when Madori Spiker volleyed a cross past Steinberg. NYU continued to battle Chicago until a late goal off an 80th minute counter attack sealed the 2-0 win for the hosts. Numerous NYU players challenged the Chicago keeper with eight recording official shots. The defeat moves the NYU women to 0-2-2 in league play with an overall record of 7-3-3.

Unfortunately for NYU the toughest test remained, as the nation’s top ranked men’s team stood in their way. NYU kept it close in the first half of play, only conceding on an own goal after a difficult bounce in the box. However, Chicago came out on fire in the second half, dominating play and scoring four goals in a fifteen minute stretch beginning with a Brenton-Neal Desai goal in the 55th minute. NYU struggled to possess the ball against Chicago’s dominant high pressure system, but when they did manage to get the ball, NYU captain Petter Aasa led the way with two shots on goal and created another chance with a well-timed through ball. The loss dropped the Violets to 1-3 in UAA play, and 5-6-2 overall.

Both teams will look to turn things around this week with the women hosting Stockton University at Gaelic Park on Thursday and the men traveling to Throggs Neck to take on SUNY Maritime on Thursday.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Oct. 17 print edition. Email Ben Goodkin at [email protected].