Box Score

Purchase, NY (Oct. 11, 2012) – A fast start paved way to the win column Thursday night for the Purchase College women's soccer team.

Backed by a scorching first half, the Panthers soundly defeated visiting York College, 5-0.

Purchase (7-6) jumped on the scoreboard minutes in, as leading-scorer Abigail Katz (SR/Livingston, NJ) blasted her 11th goal past keeper Kiara Libreros for a quick 1-0 margin.

Shortly later, Panther forward Cat Viscardi (SO/Lake Ronkonkoma, NY) netted her fourth goal of the season on another breakaway from the defense. Behind the second quick strike of the game, Purchase leapt out to a 2-0 lead just past the 10-minute marker, dominating the non-conference Cardinals from the outset.  

And the scores just kept coming for Purchase in the opening 45 minutes. Newcomer Samantha Secord (FR/Hopewell Junction, NY) pushed the lead to 3-0 on a shot in front of the goal, which was partially deflected off a defender and into the net with the keeper stretched out in front.

With 17 seconds remaining in the first half, Katz netted her second goal of the game – 12th of the season – off a cross pass from Melissa Valencia (SO/ Medellin, Colombia). Katz, a senior co-captain and the program's single-season and all-time scoring leader since the program rejoined the NCAA in 2008, is now one shy of 50 goals for her collegiate career.

The Katz goal handed the Panthers a 4-0 lead and capped the scoring in the first period.     

Purchase head coach Devon Whalen took advantage of the fast start and played multiple rotations on the evening, unloading her bench in the overwhelming win.  

In the second half, the Panthers controlled the tempo and played keep away from the visitors. Valencia would cap the scoring for the game inside of seven minutes in the second half, netting an extra insurance goal by scoring her first of the season.

The Panther defense limited York's opportunities all night long. The Cardinals were held to zero shots. In defeat, York fell to 4-8-1 overall.

Purchase resumes its conference schedule Saturday on the road, when the Panthers travel to Skyline Conference rival Mount Saint Mary.