Box Score

Purchase, NY (Aug. 31, 2012) – A late, second-half surge wasn't enough for host Purchase College Friday afternoon. Visiting Centenary College utilized an early three-goal margin to capture a 3-2 victory as the 2012 season opened earlier than usual.  

In the season-opener for both teams, the Panthers made a contest of the non-conference matchup by scoring two late, second-half goals. Inspired by the two scores, Purchase nearly sent the game into overtime. A header inside of two minutes by Purchase's Michael Beckett (JR/Yorktown Heights, NY) would have tied the score. But the shot sailed high and although the Panthers managed several corner kicks in the final minute, they failed to net the equalizer.  

With both defenses excelling in the first half, especially for the first 30 minutes, shots were hard to come by in the opening period.  But the game quickly picked up in the final 15 minutes of the first and the physical contest continued over the final 45 minutes.

Centenary's Patrick Bourland scored the game's first goal (31:20) off an assist from Alex Khouri on a cross into the box. Shortly later, Quinn Khouri nabbed an assist score off a deflection in front of the goal.

The score would remain that way heading into the break. The Cyclones (1-0) led 2-0 at intermission. Quinn Khouri would steal the show offensively for the visitors, powering his second goal into the back of the net early in the second half off an assist from Nick Telle.
Trailing 3-0, Purchase would not back away from the deficit. Starter turned sparkplug reserve Blaise Bourgeois (JR/Rochester, NY) put the Panthers on the board in the 77th minute from 14 yards out. Newcomer Andres Romero (JR/Port Chester, NY) was credited with the assist.

On an afternoon when the Panthers were close to scoring several times, Bourgeois' goal finally broke the offense free. Struggling to finish around the net for most of the game, the offense was reinvigorated by the score. Less than 10 minutes later (84:24), midfielder Danny Moallem (JR/New Rochelle, NY) netted his first of the season, bringing the Panthers within one.  

But Centenary outlasted Purchase's late push, holding an advantage in shots, 16-13, albeit a narrow one after Purchase outshot the visitors 8-2 in the second half. The physical matchup resulted in five yellow cards and a total of 15 fouls.

For the Cyclones, Jesse Goleman earned the win in goal, stopping four shots. Dylan Hyman (SO/San Francisco, CA) stopped five shots in defeat.

Rookies Romero and Kevin Riveros (FR/Port Chester, NY) paced the Panther offense with four shots apiece, accounting for eight of the 13 shots taking by the hosts. Defensively, newcomer Enderson Mhilli (FR/Rye, NY) looked sharp in his debut for Purchase.

The Panthers (0-1) return to action next weekend on the road in the Bard Tournament.