Box Score - Endicott
Box Score - Thomas
Beverly, MA (Aug. 31, 2013) – New head coach James Bruno and the Purchase men's soccer team got off to a good start in Massachusetts over the weekend, despite the final scores in the Endicott Tournament.
The Panthers lost 2-1 in an overtime thriller to Endicott in the team's season-opening game Friday night and then lost 3-0 to Thomas College Saturday. Thomas is the reigning NAC champ and a 2012 NCAA tournament qualifier.
"Having Endicott in the opener was a tough first game. The first half was even, but we generated the only real scoring opportunity from a Junior Sanguina shot, which forced the Endicott keeper to make a great save," explained Bruno of the competitive opener. "They outshot us in the first half but it was never really a threat."
The Panthers (0-2) would take the lead early in the second half as Junior Sanguina (JR/White Plains, NY),converted a penalty kick. "Junior did a great job earning the PK after being taken down in Enicott's penalty area"
However, the complexion of the game would change moving forward. A first half injury to Purchase defender Michael Beckett (SR/ Yorktown Heights, NY) didn't help the situation for the Panthers.
"We went out on our heels but Esteban Aguilar made some great saves to keep us in it. Endicott finally broke through with about 23 minutes left," Bruno said. "We hung on to get into overtime and subsequently lost with four seconds left in the first overtime period."
Endicott's Zach Rizzo blasted a one timer to the lower left corner to lift the Gulls to victory.
With this being the first contest of the 2013 season for both squads, Endicott improved to 1-0-0 while Purchase fell to 0-1-0. Thomas also fell in overtime, losing to William Paterson, 3-2.
The first half saw the two teams play a scoreless frame although Endicott was able to generate eight shots to Purchase's one.
"Coach Bruno had Purchase extremely organized defensively and we struggled to break them down when we gained possession which caused the speed of play to just not be fast enough," stated Endicott head coach Joe Calabrese. "We didn't play with any urgency on attack until we conceded the PK and Purchase got the 1-0 lead."
The overtime period was a battle back and forth that saw Endicott again hold the advantage in shots, six to zero. Aguilar (SO/East Hampton, NY) made some impressive athletic saves to keep the game tied at one.
Aguilar was impressive in net as he made seven saves throughout the evening.
Thomas was equally challenging Saturday afternoon.
"We gave up an early free kick goal," Bruno said of the 3-0 loss. "Then we settled down and went into the half down 1-0."
"We came out in second half and fatigue became a factor," he added. "They scored to make it 2-0 and we were on our heels again. Late in game we generated some opportunities from corner kick but Sanguina's shot was saved by a defender. Myles Clohessy and Sanguina generated a few chances late in the second half but the Thomas keeper held his ground."
Bruno said "stars" of the weekend were: Brad Kohel (FR/Goshen, NY), Andrew Dyal (FR/Red Hook, NY), Tim Rera (SO/Cornwall, NY), Sanguina, Aguilar and Enderson Mhilli (SR/Rye, NY). Three of those players were honored with All-Tournament status, including goalkeeper Aguilar, Sanguina and Kohel.
Aguilar made a total of nine saves on the weekend against 15 shots on net while playing every minute in net. Sanguina was solid on the forward line coming off the weekend with one goal and Kohel anchored the back line while also playing every minute.
-With James Bruno and Endicott Sports Information
