Box Score
Purchase, NY (Sept. 23, 2013) – It took nearly 80 minutes, but when the game's first score finally hit the back of the net, it proved to be timely and more than enough for the Purchase College women's soccer team.
A scoreless first half between host Purchase and visiting John Jay continued over the final 45 minutes, with Annette Elson (SO/Las Vegas, NV) playing the role of hero. Her score off a deflected shot with 11:50 remaining in regulation lifted the Panthers to their third straight win. Purchase, after starting the season 0-5, is now 3-5 on the fall. The non-conference loss drops John Jay to 2-4 on the year.
The game's lone goal came in the 78th minute of action. Purchase forward Melissa Valencia (JRMedellin, Columbia) fired a shot on goal that the John Jay keeper deflected for a save, but the rebound landed perfectly in front of Elson, a Panther newcomer for 2013, who blasted the goal past keeper Andrea Antoni for the 1-0 lead late in the game.
The goal is the first of the season for Elson, who played a terrific all-around game in the shutout. You could say there was some foreshadowing early in the matchup with Elson firing one of the few shots on goal in the first half. With around 15 minutes left in the first period, Elson tallied the first real strong scoring opportunity for the Panthers.
Nonetheless, the tilt would go into the half scoreless.
The Panther defense held John Jay's offense off the board in the first half, as the visitors failed to record a shot or a shot on goal – a feat Purchase would duplicate in the second half in closing out the win. Purchase's "D" was anchored by captains and top defenders Amanda Maertz (JR/Holbrook, NY) and Alexis Trainor (SR/Lake Ronkonkoma, NY).
Head coach Stephanie Janasiewicz pointed to the back four as the key to the win, highlighting Maertz, Trainor, Nathalie Lavelanet (JR/South Salem, NY) and Madelaine Reis (JR/Port Washington, NY) for their outstanding efforts.
Although unchallenged throughout most of the contest, the presence of goalkeeper Jess Lindsay (SR/Rochester, NY) in net provided an additional boost for the Panther defense, something John Jay was well aware of in its quest to find the goal. Lindsay has played extremely well of late, with the Panthers on their recent win streak. Imani Humphries (SO/Washington, D.C.) would replace Lindsay late in the second half and keep the shutout intact as the team, along with the Purchase defense, kept the scoreless matchup intact for 90 minutes.
Purchase outshot John Jay 23-0 for the contest, including 12-0 in the second half, with the Elson goal providing the major offensive highlight of the game.
In defeat, Antoni played well in goal for the Bloodhounds, recording 13 saves.
Purchase will look to make it four straight Saturday, when the Panthers welcome SJC-LI for their second conference game of the fall.
