Box Score
Purchase, NY (Sept. 14, 2013) – Down to its final minute of action in regulation, the Purchase College men's soccer team summoned a little extra to force overtime and turn what appeared to be a one goal loss into a 3-3 double overtime tie Saturday at home against CUNY rival the City College of New York.
Tim Rera (SO/Cornwall, NY) played the role of hero, delivering the game-tying goal with :55 seconds to go and the Panthers starring down a 3-2 loss following a mid, second half penalty kick and score by CCNY. With the keeper out in front and a scramble for the ball, Junior Sanguina (JR/White Plains, NY) served up the equalizer.
In the first OT, Enderson Mhilli (SR/Rye, NY) had two golden looks at the game-winning score, but could not capitalize, despite a terrific overall performance on the afternoon for the talent.
It appeared that CCNY had indeed edged the Panthers for its first win of the season thanks to Samuel Nkama's first score of the season. He sunk the go-ahead PK goal in the 62nd minute.
Not to be outdone, Purchase squandered a few opportunities in the second half, including three open looks in front of the net, and a sharp save on goal by the CCNY keeper after surrendering the lead to the Beavers.
But Rera came through in the clutch in a matchup that was tied 2-2 after the first 45 minutes of play and then 3-3 after 90 minutes. Two, 10-minute overtimes could not crown a victor either, but Purchase salvaged the see-saw affair with the Panthers' proverbial backs to the wall.
Although the game was sloppy at times, Purchase (1-3-1) showed glimpses of the promise that lies ahead. The Panthers kept the pressure on in the first half, attacking early and often. Roughly 13 minutes in, Mhilli provided the first real solid scoring opportunity, nearly nailing a beautiful bicycle kick in front of the goal. But a save by CCNY's Mingoro Fanny kept the game scoreless.
Meanwhile, Purchase's Esteban Aguilar (SO/East Hampton, NY) was also hanging tough in net. The netminder made another sterling grab early in the game as both teams traded shots in the opening 20 minutes.
Purchase would break through first off a score by rookie Wil Kauffman (FR/Broomall, PA), his first of the season. The unassisted score (15:16) came off a rebound in front of the goal.
CCNY (0-4-1) would counter moments later on an unassisted score of its own. Bertrand Oubida dribbled in the game-tying score 21 seconds later.
But the Panthers would answer right back. Danny Moallem (SR/New Rochelle, NY), off a free kick by Sanguina, pushed the Purchase lead back up to 2-1.
However, CCNY would not go quietly. The Beavers tied the game with under five minutes remaining in the half as Oubida netted his second score of the period.
The first half was highlighted by nine corner kicks by the Panthers and plenty of physical play on both sides. Aguilar made two saves in the half, while Fanny tallied five in net for the visitors.
Aguilar would finish with four saves on the day. Fanny made 12 for the Beavers, who were outshot 29-14 over 110 minutes of play. The Panthers peppered the goal for 33 shots in the first two halves and later four in the first OT and two more in the second, including two deep in the zone in the closing seconds of the second extra session.
The Panthers will look to build off their recent momentum Monday at Lehman College and then next Thursday at home when Purchase welcomes Sarah Lawrence to the turf for a 7 p.m. start. The Panthers are now 1-0-1 in two games at home.
