BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The Purchase College men's soccer team earned a decisive season-opening win Wednesday night, outpacing the Brooklyn College Bulldogs by the score of 3-1. 

In the team's first game since 2019, a trio of freshmen led the way, starting with Marlon Matute (Staten Island, NY) and his two goals. Matute's first strike came in the 18th minute, when he beat Brooklyn's keeper to lower right of goal.

Purchase's advantage was short lived though, as the host Bulldogs knotted things up just three minutes later. From there, the two sides played to a draw the rest of the half, before entering halftime tied at one each.

Once play resumed, the Panthers began to gain control of the game by maintaining possession and creating chances off set pieces. Finally, in the 62th minute, the Panthers' efforts were rewarded, as freshman Keven Garcia (Port Chester, NY) knocked in the game winner off a free-kick rebound.

13 minutes later, Matute sealed the match with his second of the night and Purchase headed home with the 3-1 win to open the 2021 campaign.

In goal, the third and final freshman of the Panther trio, Travis Stella (Waterbury, NY) finished with three saves and settled in nicely after the early goal. 

On the night, Purchase easily outpaced Brooklyn in corner kicks, 5-2, and the two sides finished with nearly identical shot totals. The game also marked the official start of the George Gjokaj era for the Panthers, as the head coach was hired over the summer.

Gjokaj and the Panthers will look to keep the momentum going in their next contest, which is at Lehman College on September 15th at 7:00 p.m.