In a tense game with few chances, it was sophomore Mina Girgis' (Canyon Country, CA / John Burroughs HS) late goal that was the difference in ACPHS's 2-1 victory over Paul Smith's College. After the opener for both teams, ACPHS stands at 1-0 while Paul Smith drops to 0-1.

The game started off somewhat slow, with neither team putting a shot on goal for the first 15 minutes. The Panthers found the opener on the stroke of the 17^th minute, when Girgis slid the ball into senior Kyle Perry just inside the 18-yard box. Perry spun and shielded one defender away, then unleashed a curling shot that beat Paul Smith keeper Alex Cooke at his low far-post. Paul Smith soon pulled it back in the 22^nd minute through the head of sophomore Tyler Hoellerer. A corner taken by sophomore Kevin Shea found Hoellerer rising at the back post. With three Panther defenders falling into the goal, Hoellerer thumped the ball into the back of the net for the equalizer, and the game was tied at 1-1. This is how the teams went into the break, after a first half that saw thirteen total fouls called.

Coming out of the half, Paul Smith had their chance to grab the lead, again through Hoellerer. After a foul on Albany, the free quick was taken quickly and Hoellerer was unmarked in front of goal. He dove slightly but was not able to put his header on target as it glanced over the crossbar. A fine defensive play by senior Ryan Mack (Binghamton, NY / Chenango Valley High School) saved the Panthers from a one goal deficit again in the 63^rd minute. Paul Smith forward Logan Milligan dribbled around sophomore goalie Matt Houlihan (Levittown, NY / Kellenberg Memorial High School), only to see his attempt on goal cleared off the line by Mack. The Panthers would take advantage of their next opportunity, when awarded a corner in the 67^th minute. Sophomore Dylan LaBarge (Ellenburg Depot, NY / Northern Adirondack Central High School) sent in a low cross that got its way to Jack Hanlon (Guilderland, NY / Guilderland High School). Hanlon's shot bounced off the back of a Paul Smith defender but fell right to Girgis. Girgis then made no mistake and slotted the ball into the lower left-hand corner to give the Panthers a 2-1 advantage. ACPHS would see out the final 20 minutes with a strong defensive effort, including a few vital clearances by Houlihan.

In a game which saw 30 fouls called in total, Perry's opener and Girgis' goal and assist were enough to get past Paul Smith's college. Houlihan was a presence in goal all day, making three saves and improving his record to 1-0. His counterpart Alex Cooke made four saves in a losing effort, and is now 0-1.