(Brooklyn, NY) – It was one of the most innocent looking plays during one of the most intense games in several years for the Yeshiva University Men's Soccer team. But as innocent as the play started, it was equally disasterous when it ended as a bizarre Polytechnic goal with 6:20 remaining in regulation gave the Fighting Blue Jays a 1-0 win over Yeshiva at Aviator Field in Brooklyn, New York. With the loss, YU is now 0-2 overall and 0-1 in Skyline Conference play.

As the clock wound down, and the game appeared to be heading into overtime, both teams desperately tried to tally a score to avoid an extra session. Off a Polytechnic transition, the Fighting Blue Jays mustered up an outside shot from an extreme left angle that appeared to soar above the goal. However, at the last second, the ball dipped, struck the cross-bar, and fell straight down into the goal in the 84th minute to give the hosts the lead and the game.

The scoring play climaxed an intense battle between the two teams that saw several scoring opportunities for both. Polytechnic (1-3, 1-0 Skyline Conference) outshot Yeshiva 15-4 during the opening half, an effort that included several breakaways, but were unable to convert thanks to a stellar effort in goal by YU junior Daniel Rosenthal (Panama City, Panama/IAE). The keeper made four saves during the first half of play, and seven during the game. The YU defense of Joshua Pransky (Philadelphia, PA/Beren), Roni Magendzo (Santiago, Chile/Ner Israel Rabbinical College), and Eitan Magendzo (Santiago, Chile/Beren) also turned in a tremendous game, showing incredible improvement after allowing 14 goals during the 2008 season opener on Thursday.

The second half saw the tide switch as Yeshiva controlled possession for much of the half, and had several breakaways of their own, only to be turned away by the Polytechnic defense each time. Yeshiva seemed primed to score the winning goal until Polytechnic took the lead so very late in the second half.

Also having solid games for Yeshiva were sophomore Zachary Stern (Columbus, OH/Columbus Torah Academy), senior Arie Blum (Santiago, Chile/Ner Israel), and junior Joseph Itkis (Newton, MA/Maimonides).

YU returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 10 when the Maccabees host defending Skyline Conference Champion SUNY Old Westbury at 8:00 p.m. The game will be played at Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers, New York.