JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In a back-and-forth see-saw contest in a series that has seen some memorable games in the last six years, the New Jersey City University men's soccer team led 2-1, New York University rallied to tie and take the lead, and freshman midfielder Bashar Elsherif (Princeton Junction, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro South) forced overtime in the 84th minute before NJCU and NYU settled for a 3-3 draw in double overtime on September 21 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
 
NJCU (8-1-1) outshot the Violets (3-2-2) 31-19, including 7-4 in the two overtimes but settled for the draw in a game where it had numerous opportunities following a straight red card to NYU in the 28th minute that resulted in the visitors playing a man down for the final 82 minutes. It was the third time in the last four meetings the two teams have went to overtime.
 
Elsherif tied it with 6:05 remaining in regulation off a header from sophomore midfielder Edwin Carbajal (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) after NYU tied it in the 58th minute and took a 3-2 lead just 4:21 later. All three NYU goals were scored by junior Tristan Medios-Simon (Kailua, Hawaii), who chalked up the hat trick.
 
Sophomore forward Theo Sanoh (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) scored his eighth goal of the season—the fourth consecutive game he's scored in—and assisted on NJCU's second half go-ahead goal by senior midfielder Davauni Brown (Newark, N.J./Newark Tech) in the 46th minute.
 
NYU scored just 26 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead on a defensive lapse and the Gothic Knights returned the favor scoring just 36 seconds into the second half.
 
NYU senior keeper Lucas Doucette (San Diego, Calif.) played very well, making 12 saves including multiple diving stops to keep the Violets alive. His biggest stop was a 28th minute penalty kick by Brown and the ensuing rebound. NYU also had a team save.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Adam Cassidy (Jersey City, N.J./County Prep) stopped five shots, including several highlight reel outstretched stops of his own.
 
Senior midfielder Petter Aasa (Umea, Sweden), freshman forward Owen Smith (Laguna Beach, Calif.) and sophomore midfielder Robert Shellow (Miami, Fla.) all had single assists for the guests.
 
Brown had a game-high nine shots (four on goal), Sanoh collected eight shots (four on goal) and sophomore forward Omar Ventura (Fairview, N.J./Cliffside Park) chalked up six other chances (three on goal).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the seventh straight meeting between the schools decided by one goal or less, NYU jumped on top just 26 seconds into the game. Aasa won possession on the near sideline and with the NJCU defense and Cassidy pinched forward, switched fields to the far left wing to Medios-Simon, who struck a one-timer just inside the near right post.
 

Sanoh got NJCU even with a scintillating goal in the 23rd minute. Freshman midfielder Jose Salazar (Jersey City, N.J./Union City) won the ball in his defensive third, pushed it up the field to Sanoh who used speed to burn one defender, cut back, took a few dribbles and curled a shot from 25 yards out over the NYU keeper.
 
NJCU had a chance to take the lead at 27:55 but Brown's shot was struck by an outstretched hand in the middle of the box, drawing a straight red card to an NYU defender for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Brown was awarded a penalty kick but Doucette stopped his shot towards the right post and the ensuing rebound by Ventura.
 
Tied 1-1 at halftime, Sanoh's shot 33 seconds into the second half from the left endline was saved by Doucette, but the rebound came right to Brown who pounced, knocking it into the upper right side.
 
NYU tied it when Smith slipped a ball through the defense to Medios-Simon who eluded coverage on the left side of the box. Shellow contributed to the go-ahead goal when his ball was delivered past the back line to Medios-Simon who put away another wide open chance. He scored on three of the four shots he attempted.
 
With time of the essence, Carbajal headed a ball from outside of the midfield circle to the far right wing and Elsherif put away an opportunity past a sliding Doucette. Each keeper had one sensational save in overtime.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: NYU leads, 7-2-2. It was the seventh straight meeting that was decided by one or less.
• NJCU is receiving points in the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU heads to Ewing, NJ on Saturday, September 24 (11 a.m.) for an NJAC matchup with The College of New Jersey (4-3-1, 0-1 NJAC). TCNJ won last year's meeting on October 21, 2015 in Jersey City, 4-2. It will be the 61st meeting. TCNJ leads the all-time series, 50-7-3 and has won the last four meetings since 2012.