Newburgh, NY
(Oct. 25, 2016) – The Purchase women's soccer team dropped a close 2-0 decision to Mount Saint Mary College Tuesday evening at Kaplan Field.
In the process, the Knights (8-8, 7-2 SKY) earned the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Skyline Conference Postseason Tournament. In defeat, the Panthers (5-9-2, 4-4-1 SKY) tied for fifth with St. Joseph's College (LI), however, by virtue of the league's tie-breaking policy (goals conceded in conference play), Purchase will drop to the No. 6 spot. This is the first return to playoffs for the Panthers since the 2013 season.
The Mount's Destiny Ribadeneyra scored both goals for the home team in the opening stanza on Tuesday. Ribadeneyra broke through in the 32nd minute when she deposited a passing play that started on the right wing with Maeve O'Sullivan before Nicole Cavallo found her in the box for a 1-0 lead.
The Knights' lead grew to two goals six minutes later when Ribadeneyra found the back of the net, tallying her fifth goal of the season along the way. Bridget McKeever was awarded the assist after collecting a turnover and finding Ribadeneyra at the top of the box.
Mount Saint Mary went to the intermission with a 15-1 advantage in shots and a 3-1 edge in corner kicks. Purchase keeper,
Rachel Mizrahi (JR/Goldens Bridege, NY), kept the Panthers close with six first half saves.
The Knights kept the pressure on the entire second half and outshot the Panthers 10-0 on their way to a 25-1 advantage for the game and a 15-0 edge in shots on goal. Ten different Knights recorded a shot in the game with O'Sullivan and Ribadeneyra leading the way with six each. McKeever closed the game with four shots for the Knights.
Junior Mary Riley picked up the shutout without having to make a save in the game. Mizrahi finished the game with 13 saves for Purchase.
The Panthers travel to the College of Mount Saint Vincent this Saturday for the Skyline Quarterfinal match starting at noon. The Knights will be off until Nov. 2 when they take on the winner of the Purchase and CMSV game.
