PURCHASE, N.Y. - The Purchase College women's lacrosse team was defeated in its home opener Friday night, falling to the Knights of Mount Saint Mary College, 19-8.

The loss dropped the Panthers to 0-2 on the year, while the game was the first of the season for the Knights.

Purchase started the contest quick, as Gabby Castles (SR/Bethpage, NY) scored 30 seconds in off a feed from Alyssa Kozak (FR/Westbury, NY). After the guests responded with two goals, the Panthers tied the game at 2-2, when Maddy Mecca (SR/Oceanside, NY) found the back of the net via an assist from Castles. 

Three minutes later, the Knights regained the lead on a goal from Ashley Giorgi (FR/Danbury, CT) and never looked back. Over the final 20 minutes of the first half, the guests outscored Purchase, 8-2, to carry an 11-4 lead into the halftime break.

In the second frame, the hosts struck first when Kozak scored a man-up goal just 14 seconds into the half. Her goal was assisted by Lauren Pudelka (SO/Danbury, CT). The final three Purchase goals of the night came from Mecca and Madison Fetzer (SO/Happuage, NY), as the duo each finished with a pair of strikes.

On the night, Kozak tallied four points to led the offensive effort, while Castles added nine draw controls. In goal, Casandra Schmoger (SO/Islip, NY) recorded 16 saves in the loss. 

Up next for the Panthers was supposed to be a home contest with Manhattanville College on April 1st. However, that game has been postponed with no makeup date announced yet. After that, Purchase is on the road at the College of Mount Saint Vincent on April 9th. You can follow both contests right here.