Box Score

Purchase, NY (Sept. 28, 2011) – Mother Nature wreaked havoc Wednesday night as the skies opened and the rains came rushing down.
 
The harsh weather conditions made for a slippery slope and a slick field on an evening when visiting Farmingdale State and the Panthers resumed their conference schedule.
 
However, the wet turf didn't seem to slow the speedy Blaise Bourgeois (SO/Rochester, NY), who provided the game-winning goal for Purchase in the 77th minute of regulation. After a long drawn out battle, Bourgeois fired a shot from a tough right angle – roughly 10 yards out on the right side – that slipped past FSC goalkeeper Michael Valverde, breaking a scoreless tie. For the sophomore forward, it is his team-leading 10th goal of the season.
 
“The rain definitely played a role tonight,” Bourgeois said. “It was a huge factor. I hit a tough shot. I'm just happy it found the back of the net.”
 
The pouring rain and two tenacious defenses was the story early, but the night's lone score became the focal point when it was all said and done.       
 
Purchase (4-2-1) put together the first solid scoring opportunity in the 25th minute of the first half. With some room to work in the open field, Bourgeois took advantage of a step on his defender, firing a blazer on goal that Valverde deflected away.
 
The first half presented a host of sterling defensive plays, highlighted by Purchase's improved tackling. The Panthers have made great strides defensively under new head coach James Quiroga and top assistant Lonny Unger. Captain Shomari Dias (SR/West Hempstead, NY) has been key, providing veteran leadership in front of top-notch goalkeeper David Kurzweil (SR/Bedford, NY). Dias spearheaded another tight defensive effort Wednesday night at home.
 
FSC's Brian Anderson presented the best chances for the Rams in the opening period, launching a pair of sharp shots on goal that Kurzweil deflected. The rain began to pickup again inside the final 12 minutes of the first half, but Purchase and FSC didn't seem to mind the constant mist and soggy field. The conditions added to the defensive drama, with both teams racing back and forth as the rains marched down.  
 
There was a torrential down pour in the hour leading up to gametime. The rains calmed around 7 p.m., but it continued to drizzle and pour on and half for most of the matchup.    
 
Drenched, the Panthers matched wits with the Rams through the first 45 minutes. The two teams went into the halftime scoreless.
 
In the second half, the torrential rains returned. The fierceness of the down pour appeared to play more of a factor in the final 45 minutes. Playing the role of agitator, the rain started to ware on both the visitors and the hosts, leading to some defensive breakdowns early in the second.
 
John Popovic nearly put FSC on the board first. The Rams forward hit the post on a beautiful attempt in the opening minutes of the second. The Panthers quickly responded with another threat of their own.
 
Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week Stefan Gohler (FR/Brooklyn, NY) laced a shot from outside the box on the right side that would have put the Panthers up first, but once again FSC's Valverde came up with the save.
 
Shortly later, Popovic would clank the post again in a near goal. In a game of inches, the rain seemed to throw off both teams in the closest of margins.
 
But there was a goal to be had. And the confident Bourgeois believed his name would be all over it. With 13:56 to go, Bourgeois broke free and lifted the Panthers to a 1-0 lead. The high-scoring Bourgeois erupted, flying from end to end around the field, joining teammates in a mini-celebration.
 
Lost in the 1-0 win was the performance of Kurzweil, who made several highlight reel saves in the victory, including a dandy around the four-minute marker that preserved the slim lead. Kurzweil and the Panther defense was able to hold off FSC down the stretch, earning their second conference win of the season.
 
The Panthers are now 2-1 in league play.