Purchase, NY (Sept. 16, 2017) – It took until the 64th minute for the goal that would decide the game.

Enter Joel Viveros (SR/Valhalla, NY).

The senior defender played hero for the Panthers in a tightly contested 2-0 victory against Skyline Conference foe, Farmingdale State, at home Saturday.

It was the league opener for both teams.

Viveros, who played well in the win, hauled in a rebound off a corner kick from Yianni Amvrosiatos (JR/Warwick, NY) that he buried into the left corner for a 1-0 lead. Purchase head coach James Bruno subbed Viveros and he came through with the eventual game winner, as the hosts held off the Rams over the final 27 minutes of action.

Thomas Browne (FR/Carle Place, NY) also came in off the bench in the second half and provided a lift with his energy. He added an insurance goal in the 86th minute that set the bench ablaze. It was assisted by midfielder Oliver Dubreus (JR/Cornwall, NY) on the loose ball and shot from the top six.

The goals marked the first of the season for both Viveros and Browne. It also the first career collegiate goal for the freshman Browne.   

Not to be outdone, Purchase and its sparkling defense shined in the win. The Panthers improved to 3-3 overall, including 1-0 in the league. The loss dropped FSC to 2-2 and 0-1.

Purchase has now won three straight, including the last two by way of shutout – both victories where its rookie keeper and defense were on full display. 

Panther tri-captain Greg Lorenz (JR/Massapequa, NY) was injured early in the second half. Purchase rallied around his absence and nearly scored the game's first goal on an attack at the net. Kayode Tyler (SR/Nyack, NY) fired a shot that was saved by FSC keeper Daniel Stern. Eslam Ellisy (FR/Nyack, NY) followed on the rebound, but his attempt was blocked by the defender.

It was the first of several scoring chances to kick start the second half.

The momentum in the second half was carried over from the first. The Panthers set the tempo in the opening minutes.

Purchase generated a corner kick in the opening three minutes of the game and fired an early shot, but the two teams were decisive and feisty on the defensive end in the first half – something that would end up characterizing the entire game.

Physical play highlighted the first 45 minutes, and for the whole game for that matter.  

In the 35th minute, the Panthers got their first real scoring chance on a blast from Dubreus that ricocheted off the right post. Dubreus followed that shot with another on the rebound that went high.

With the action and pace starting to pick up, FSC's Christian Campos recorded back-to-back shots for the Rams – their first two of the game.

Shortly later, Panther keeper Jordan Meade (FR/Olivebridge, NY) made a key save on a Tobi Ojuade liner right on goal to keep the game scoreless (18:08).

The Purchase defense was sparked by brothers Anthony Iurillo (SR/Whitesone, NY) and Joseph Iurillo (FR/Whitestone, NY), including one nifty play with under 20 minutes to go in the period that prevented the Rams from getting into the box.

Right after, the younger Iurillo was momentarily banged up on a play and taken off the field. The Panthers played a man down until his return one minute later in the first half. 

Meade and the Panther defense were not done putting their stamp on a scoreless first half. The freshman keeper recorded back-to-back saves with just under six minutes to go in the half.

Two minutes later, Meade once again dazzled in goal, turning away a shot and then pressuring the FSC offensive player, John Kender, into a high shot on the rebound.   

The stalemate carried into the halftime. The Rams outshot Purchase 7-4 in the first half. Meanwhile, both teams totaled two corner kicks, six fouls and one off side apiece in the evenly matched showdown.

For the game, Meade finished with 11 saves en route to the win. In the process, he improved to 2-0 on the fall over two straight shutouts.

Although FSC won the shot and corner kick margin for the game, 17-10 and 9-6, respectively, Purchase countered with seven second-half saves behind its keeper and defense and the two timely scores – part of six shots taken by the club in the second half.