Phoenix and Narwhals Battle to a Stalemate in Season Opener
September 14, 2025
New York, NY – The Vaughn College Phoenix opened their 2025 season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against The New School at 130 Central Rd. Vaughn struck first in the late stages of the first half, but The New School capitalized on a penalty kick in the final minutes to equalize and share the result.
Match Overview
First Half:
The Phoenix applied consistent offensive pressure, outshooting The New School 9-2 in the opening 45 minutes. Their breakthrough came in the 39th minute when forward Vladimir Francois capitalized on a goalkeeper error to slot home the opening goal, giving Vaughn a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Second Half:
The New School regrouped and increased their attacking presence, generating six shots in the final period. Vaughn's back line held strong for much of the half, with goalkeeper Zachary Alexander making key saves. However, in the 84th minute, The New School's Sasha converted a penalty kick to level the score at 1-1. Despite late chances from both sides, neither team could find the winner.
Key Performances
Vaughn College:
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Vladimir Francois: Scored Vaughn's lone goal in the 39th minute after pressuring the goalkeeper into a mistake.
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Zachary Alexander (Goalkeeper): Registered 2 saves in the second half.
The New School:
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Sasha: Scored the equalizer in the 84th minute on a penalty kick.
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Mauricio & Geronimo: Each tallied a shot on goal, contributing to the second-half surge.
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Fernando (Goalkeeper): Stopped 6 shots to prevent Vaughn from extending their lead.
Game Statistics
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Total Shots: Vaughn 16, The New School 8
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Shots on Goal: Vaughn 7, The New School 3
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Saves: Vaughn 2, The New School 6
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Corner Kicks: Vaughn 5, The New School 2
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Fouls: Vaughn 8, The New School 9
Looking Ahead
The Phoenix will look to build on their strong opening performance as they prepare for their next match. Vaughn travels to face Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on Sunday, September 21.
