Purchase, NY (Sept. 14, 2016) – Purchase struck first, then answered back, but Yeshiva would tie it up again in regulation, forcing overtime Wednesday night.   

Two extra sessions later, the Panthers and Macs walked off the field in a 2-2 stalemate.

The Panthers entered tonight's matchup looking for their first victory of the fall and improved their record to 0-4-1 overall, but more importantly 0-0-1 in Skyline Conference play. The tie pushes YU to 1-4-1 overall, including 1-2-1 in conference.   

In their league opener, the Panthers got on the board first in the 23rd minute on a score by forward Rob Cal (SO/Port Jervis, NY). He was assisted by fellow forward Ramsey Heitmann (SO/Garrison, NY). Heitmann dribbled down the sideline, then cut into the 18 and crossed the pass to Cal, who finished it off into the bottom left corner for his first strike of the season.
The goal marked the first time this fall that Purchase has played with a lead.

Although Purchase was outshot 10-2 in the opening 45 minutes, Cal's goal set the tone for the rest of the first half and provided the boost the hometown lineup and defense were looking for.

Purchase starting defenders Stephen Gueye (FR/Eastchester, NY), Raffaela Aversa (FR/Cornwall, NY), Aaron Jones (FR/Highland Falls, NY), Anthony Iurillo (JR/Flushing, NY) played well in front of keeper Thomas Ogrodnik (JR/Washingtonville, NY), who was the star of the night.

Purchase led 1-0 at the break, but YU countered with a second-half goal off the foot of Itamer Ben David in the 56th minute. Ben David was assisted by Albert Dichy on a through ball up the middle.

But Panther captain Dylan Hyman (SR/San Francisco, CA) responded with his first goal of the season on a rebounded shot taken by Cal in the 68th minute.

Momentarily, it seemed like the goal might stand tall for Purchase, but with a little over 15 minutes to play, the visitors capitalized on a reverse connection – this time Ben David finding Dichy for his second goal of the season and the equalizer.

The game would remain knotted for the remainder of regulation and through two OT periods, despite a handful of chances on both sides, most notably two shots for YU and one in the final few seconds of the final extra period by Brandon Paniagua (FR/Bronx, NY) that went wide.   

Ogrodnik finished with 14 saves, including a couple of brilliant stops at the end of regulation and in extra time. He was especially outstanding on a night when YU held a 34-11 advantage in shots.

YU keeper Maor Feinstein totaled five saves in the draw.

Cal and Hyman paced the Purchase offense with three shots apiece, while Dichy and Netanel Silberman recorded 18 of 34 for the Macs. Dichy led the way with five shots on goal. Cal finished with three shots on goal.