Purchase, NY (Feb. 27, 2018) – Up three goals at half, Purchase appeared in the proverbial driver's seat Tuesday night against SUNY Cobleskill at home.

But the Fighting Tigers lived up to the moniker and tied the game with six-plus minutes left in the fourth period.

In the end, the comeback allowed the Panthers to put the finishing touches on their first win of the season. And they did so in dramatic fashion, taking the non-conference game 9-8 in the closing seconds.  

With less than a minute to go, Cobleskill's Ian Eckert ran into Purchase's Justice Smith (SR/Manhattan, NY). The Panther defender forced a turnover on Eckert, who already scored once on the day. The defensive play of the game paved the way for the game-winning goal.

Enter Dylan Gethicker (JR/Lime Lake, NY). He scored his team-best fifth of the season with nine seconds left, charging from behind the goal to slip the shot past Cobleskill's goalie, Willie Wilson. Head coach Michael Bocklet, Jr. put the ball in Gethicker's hands. He went 1v1 and netted the dramatic game winner, which sent the Panther bench into a frenzy. 

Smith, Gethicker and the Panthers, despite allowing the Fighting Tigers to tie the game and take the lead, rallied around the loss of defender Alex Krug (JR/Pine Bush, NY). The captain went down with an injury late. His presence on the defensive end was missed and helped Cobleskill get back in the game.

Undeterred, Purchase regrouped and earned the hard-fought victory.

Goalkeeper Matt Sayegh (SO/Hopewell Junction, NY) turned away nine shots in the win. Defenders Brady Fahy (JR/Rochester, NY), Justus Lacey (SR/Syracuse, NY) and Smith all keyed the victory.

Lost in the drama of the final minute was the play of Purchase's Christian Maldonado (FR/Albany, NY). The newcomer not only scored his first career goal in Orange and Blue, but also scored twice more for a hat trick. All three of his goals came in the first half and gave the hosts what looked like a comfortable lead. His offensive breakout helped the Panthers take a 2-1 lead after Cobleskill tied the game. His second and third goals made it 5-3 and 6-3, respectively.

Purchase led 2-1 at the end of the first period and then by three goals at intermission.

It was 7-6 Purchase heading into the fourth period.

In defeat, Cobleskill was led by Sean Degnan and his game-high four goals – three of which came in the second half and sparked the comeback. Kiran Tierney added two goals, while Eckert and Joe Nocella had the other strikes.

Degnan made it 7-7 and then handed the visitors an 8-7 advantage at 4:28. 

For the Panthers, James Felix (JR/Scarsdale, NY) added two goals, including a clutch, game-tying strike at 3:36, which made it 8-8.  

Purchase Rookie Ben Erkan (FR/Belport, NY) scored for the second time in as many games. Teammates and fellow newcomers Shane Sanders (FR/Merrick, NY) and Calvin Amaro (FR/Bronx, NY) also recorded their first career goals. The four rookies accounted for six of the team's nine goals.

Gethicker added four assists to his dramatic game winner, while Erkan also posted two assists in the program's second-ever win.