Senior midfielder Maddie Pena couldn't have started her final season in a Violets' uniform much stronger as she scored twice and added an assist in the New York University women's soccer team's 3-0 victory over host St. Josephs College on Friday, August 31, in Patchogue, NY.

The Pasadena, CA, native helped the Violets get on the scoreboard first when she assisted on Ashlyn Krygowski's goal just 9:29 into the contest.

The score remained 1-0 through the end of the first half and into the second when Pena added a pair of goals 91 seconds apart in the 54th and 55th minutes, respectively.

Pena's first goal was assisted by Sophia Foster-Palmer, while her second tally came off a feed from Alex Benedict. 

The Violets took 33 shots in the victory, while their defense - led by Callie Delaney, Maddie Howard, Nalani Ogawa, and Rachel O'Keefe - allowed just three shots on the evening. Goalkeeper Sophia Danielsen saved the only Golden Eagles' shot on goal to clinch her eighth-career shutout. 

Lila Keltz paced the Violets with a game-high six shots, while Benedict added five.

NYU returns to action on Sunday, when it hosts Vassar College in its home opener at noon at Gaelic Park in Riverdale, NY.