Purchase, NY
(Sept. 2, 2015) –Defending league champion Purchase began its quest for a repeat Wednesday night, opening the season against the College of Staten Island at home.
The Panthers notched a 2-1 victory over CSI, bouncing back from a 2-0 defeat against the Dolphins last season on the road.
Staten Island, which won the CUNYAC regular-season title in 2014 and fell in the league semifinals, started strong in its 2015 opener.
However, the Dolphins (0-1) wore down toward the end of the first half, thanks largely to Purchase's physical play.
Panther standout returner
Matthew Ebel (SR/Miller Place, NY) scored the game's first goal on an assist from newcomer
Denes Kostel (SO/New Hyde Park, NY).
Ebel chipped the ball right over the keeper's head from the top of the 18, securing his first goal of the season and the first assist for Kostel as a Panther.
Purchase (1-0) added a second strike under 10 minutes in the period on a
Myles Clohessy (SR/Cornwall, CT) header, which was assisted by rookie
Isaac Lee (FR/New York, NY). Lee took a free kick, hitting the cross bar on the previous play while paving the way for Clohessy on the score.
Like Kostel, the assist marked the first of Lee's Panther career.
The Dolphins would not go quietly, cutting the margin in half with under 25 minutes to play. Forward Philip Lefkowitz scored the visitor's first goal off an assist from Aldair Ramirez.
With Purchase holding a slim 2-1 advantage, the Panther defense closed out the victory.
The home defense was sparked by captain
Samvara Anello (SR/Bali, Indonesia),
Connor Leavens (JR/Whitestone, NY),
Matt Gavilanes (JR/Goshen, NY), All-Skyline returner
Anthony Iurillo (SO/Flushing, NY) and netminder
Esteban Aguilar (SR/East Hampton, NY).
Aguilar earned the win in goal, recording nine saves. The Panther goalie made several sparkling stops, including a pair late to secure the win.
In the loss, CSI keeper Daniel Raffo made three saves.
In addition, the midfield play shined for Purchase behind Ebel, Kostel,
Yianni Amvrosiatos (FR/Warwick, NY) and
Alexi Hryniuk (JR/Brooklyn, NY), as the unit helped control the tempo offensively and defensively.
The Panthers return to action this weekend at SUNY Canton Field for the Potsdam College Cup where they will face top-flight programs Potsdam and Plattsburgh, respectively.
