Box Score

Kings Point, NY (Mar. 19, 2014) – Fresh off a Skyline Conference weekly award, Samantha Rich scored four times in a resounding 9-8 victory at USMMA Wednesday night.

Nathalie Lavelanet (JR/South Salem, NY) and Rebecca Small (SR/ South Glastonbury, CT) added two goals apiece, and LeiAnna Frazier (SR/Brooklyn, NY) tallied a goal of her own as Purchase reeled off its second straight victory to kick start the spring season. Head coach Francesca DeLorenzo has guided the Panthers to an amazing start in just the program's second year. Purchase, which did not win a game last spring in its inaugural campaign, has looked sharp through two games, edging the Mariners on their home turf Wednesday.  

Purchase scored twice at the end of the first half to level the tilt at 5-5 heading into halftime.  The visitors built a 9-6 advantage with 7:25 to play thanks to another Rich (SO/Providence, RI) goal.  Rich finished the night with four goals, one assist and three of the seven draw controls for the Panthers. She also sparkled in the team's first-ever win Saturday and was later named to the Skyline Conference honor roll for women's lacrosse player of the week on Monday.

Lavelanet tied it at 1-1 and Rich made it 2-2. In the back-and-forth affair, USMMA would once again take the lead, but Lavelant tied it at 3-3 on her second score of the night – an unassisted tally. The Panthers fell behind 5-3 before closing the first half on a strong note thanks to goals by Frazier and Rich.

Offensively, the second half was highlighted by another breakout performance from Rich, who scored two more goals to help the Panthers secure the win. Small netted the team's final two goals as the Panthers fended off a late comeback from USMMA. Small's final goal at 7:25 proved to be the game winner.

Meanwhile, USMMA's Alexandra Winfree scored her fourth goal with 39 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 9-8 but Purchase would hold on late for the victory.  Shannen Dunn got off one last shot, with 12 seconds left, for the Mariners to try and force overtime but it hit the side of the net

Merchant Marine (1-2) took a 5-3 lead in the first half with a goal from A Jordan Pappas.  Emilly Finnin had a strong day for the Mariners with six draw controls and five ground balls.    

Goalkeeper Jess Lindsay (SR/Rochester, NY) faced 14 shots and made six saves to improve to 2-0 in net for Purchase. Rachel Smith made 10 saves in the loss.

The surging Panthers will look to make it three straight Saturday when they open their conference schedule at home against Farmingdale State.

-USMMA Sports Information Contributed to this report