PURCHASE, N.Y. – Purchase College returned to its winning ways under the lights Tuesday night, earning a 3-0 victory over the visiting Bears of St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn).  

The Panthers snapped a two-game losing streak with the impressive performance, advancing their record to 3-3-4 overall and 2-2 in Skyline Conference play. In defeat, St. Joe's dropped to 2-3-1 overall and 1-2 in the league.
 
The first half saw equal possession, with both teams putting up six shots and one corner kick apiece. 

At 37:32, Purchase gained the upper hand when sophomore forward Julieth Velasquez (White Plains, NY) unleashed a remarkable strike from 35 yards out. The eventual game-winning tally was the second goal of the season for Velasquez. 

In a challenging twist, St. Joe's returned for the second half with only 10 players on the field, further emphasizing the Panthers' control of the match.  As the game progressed, Purchase maintained its offensive pressure and eventually found the back of the net again to lead 2-0.

With under 15 minutes remaining, freshman midfielder Emily Giron (Newburgh, NY) dribbled past the SJU defense and found the feet of freshman midfielder Nuriyah Richardson (New London, CT). Just outside the 18-yard box, Richardson beat the last defender and punched one high to the far post, earning her first-ever career goal along the way.   

The final blow was delivered by freshman forward Lindita Selmani (Brooklyn, NY) at 86:35, sealing the match at 3-0 in favor of the Panthers.

Purchase held a 16-13 edge in shots and a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal, while SJU led in corner kicks, 6-4.  

Sophomore goalie Carolyn Hough (Massapequa, NY) showcased another impressive run between the posts for Purchase. The standout starter recorded five saves en route to her fourth shutout win of the season. 

SJU keeper Julia Marin collected six saves, despite being tagged with the loss. 

The Panthers will play host again this Saturday for non-conference game against the City College of New York starting at 2:30 p.m.

For the latest news on the Panthers, log on to www.purchasecollegeathletic.com – the official site of Purchase College athletics. Also, become a follower of the Panthers on Instagram (purchasecollegewomenssoccer) and Twitter (@PC_Panthers), and "LIKE" Us on Facebook (@purchasecollegeathletics).