Purchase, NY (April 7, 2016) – Senior tri-captain Samantha Rich took over Thursday night's showdown with perennial power Mount Saint Mary.

Rich (SR/Providence, RI) scored six times, including the 100th goal of her Purchase career in a program-defining 14-13 victory over the rival Knights. The win marked the first time in the school's history that Purchase has defeated MSMC in women's lacrosse. Lax became a full-fledged program in 2013, going winless the first spring before securing five wins in 2014 and a program-record 11 in 2015.

Rich, who has been part of all three of those teams, said defeating MSMC was one the team's goals for 2016. The Knights topped Purchase 14-11 last spring.

But tonight would be different, with Rich coming one goal shy of tying Zoe Hines (SO/Maplewood, NJ) for the single-game record of seven goals, which the sophomore set earlier this year in a road win over SUNY Maritime. For Rich, she now has 20 goals on the season.

The home victory over MSMC improves Purchase to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Skyline Conference. The loss drops the Knights to 4-6, including 0-2 in the league.

The Knights scored first. Amanda Clemens opened the scoring for the visitors. Purchase immediately countered with a score by Madi Smith (SO/Lagrangeville, NY), assisted by Emma Porter (SO/Homer, NY). Less than a minute later, the Panthers seized a 2-1 margin on an unassisted strike by tri-captain Maria Papp (SR/White Plains, NY).

Rich then nabbed her first of the game off an assist from Hines (24:49) to bump the lead to 3-1.

However, the Knights countered with consecutive unassisted scores from Clemens and Jen Gries to tie the contest at 3-3.

MSMC would increase the lead to 5-3 on scores by Christina Ryan and Kayla Gorman, but Panther tri-captain Nathalie Lavelanet (SR/South Salem, NY) pulled the hosts back within one an unassisted score (6:27).

Rich recorded her second of the game right after; this time finding the back of the net on an assist from Kelly Turtell (SO/Farmingdale, NY). Rich's second of the game was the 100th goal of her career. She received a nice ovation from the crowd as it was announced over the loud speaker.

With the game now tied at 5-all, Smith helped the Panthers take a 6-5 intermission lead on her fifth of the season – also assisted by Turtell.

A late penalty at the end of the first half paved the way to an MSMC goal to start the second as Shannon McGuinness tied the score once more – this time at 6-6.

But Rich would help create some separation with 27 minutes to go, scoring back-to-back in an impressive fashion for her 17th and 18th of the season. The second goal was assisted by Turtell and handed the Panthers an 8-6 lead.

Nonetheless, the game was far from over.

MSMC's Maggie Pedersen followed less than a minute later with her fourth of the season.

Rich then answered with her 19th and made the score 9-7.

Kathleen McGinnis brought the Knights back within one on her ninth of the spring before Rich ended her incredible night offensively with her sixth goal (17:04) for a 10-8 advantage.

Ryan scored for MSMC at 16:17 and bridged the gap back to one, but Hines would score her team-leading 25th goal of the season off an assist from Porter to increase the lead back to two. Porter then scored her first of the game and 16th of the season for a 12-9 lead.

Ryan scored again for the visitors and was followed by Kayla Gorman to bring the game within one, once more.

But Lavelanet scored her second of the night – a clutch goal – off an assist from Porter to make it 13-11.

With nine minutes to play, MSMC scored back-to-back (Ryan and Gries) and fought valiantly, but the Panther defense and the eventual game-winning goal from Porter (6:40) helped Purchase seal the dramatic 14-13 win.

The victory would come down to the final minute, where Panther keeper Cynthia Plackis (SO/East Northport, NY) made an amazing save on Clemens in the final seconds to preserve the win. In the 60 minutes, Plackis finished with 14 saves and the victory. Amanda Picillo, who recorded three saves, took the loss for the Knights.

The horn sounded as time expired, setting off a huge celebration for the Panthers. Following the game-saving save from Plackis, Rich sprinted down the field and helped kill the final 20 seconds of the contest.

In the end, Rich led the Panthers with six goals on 10 shots and one assist, while adding four ground balls and five draw controls. Smith, Lavelanet and Porter added two goals apiece. Papp added three ground balls in the win, while Smith, Porter, Kelsey Straub (JR/White Plains, NY) and Lexie Stodden (SR/Monroe, NY) finished with two caused turnovers each.