On Saturday, ACPHS stretched their win streak to seven games in a row when they netted twice in the final 15 minutes to beat non-league foe Bryant & Stratton College 2-0. With the victory, the Panthers improve to 7-1 overall, while the Bobcats drop to 4-2-1.

These teams met twice in the regular season last year, the final scores being 8-2 in favor of the Panthers and 7-0 Bobcats. All signs pointed to this being a high-scoring rubber match, but that was not the case. Sophomore Katie Benson (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa) was her usual self on Saturday, terrorizing the Bobcat defense all day long. She first set up the Panthers with a free kick at the edge of the box in the 13^th minute. Senior Katie Parsels (Rochester, NY / Gates Chili) took the ensuing shot, only to see the wall tip it just wide.

Last week's USCAA National Women's Soccer Goalie of the Week Kennedy Rives (Austin, TX / Shenedehowa) was then forced into action for the first time of many in the 23^rd minute, when a long-ball from the Bryant midfield left senior forward Kai Jacobs with only Rives to beat. Rives dove low to her right to parry the shot just wide for her first of seven saves in the shutout.

A pair of chances then mirrored each other in the 25^th and 29^th minutes, first for Benson of the Panthers. She broke free of the defense only to see her far-post shot roll inches wide. The next was for Bryant's Portia Davis, when she went near-post behind the ACPHS defense barely wide. The most hectic moment of the game came when the Bobcat's Jacobs went on a scintillating run through midfield, leaving two defenders in her path. She got right next to Rives and got off three shots in sequence: the first hit the post, the second blocked by senior Rebecca Foote (Arcade, NY / Pioneer), and the third held onto by Rives. The teams headed into the half without a breakthrough, but each with plenty of chances.

The second half proved to be just as open as the first, with Davis missing a 1-on-1 opportunity saved by Rives, only to see Benson go right back down on the other end and see her breakaway saved. It happened again in the 60^th minute, when Tersegno had a chance saved that led to Davis missing another golden opportunity just wide. Back and forth the tie went, but it seemed destined for extra minutes until the 76^th minute. Parsels picked up the ball half way into the Bobcat's half and released Benson down the left wing. Benson had the option to go it alone, but saw Tersegno unmarked at the back post and gave her a perfect low cross that Tersegno tapped in for her team-leading 14^th goal in eight games.

The Panthers began to absorb pressure thereafter, which left Bryant vulnerable on the counterattack. Following a long clearance, Benson nicked the ball off a the Bobcats' last defender and pushed the ball forward with only the goal in sight. She beat Bryant keeper Megan Hagadorn just underneath the crossbar for her eighth of the year, and sealed up the victory for the Panthers. Tersegno led ACPHS with four of their 12 shots on net, while Portia Davis led the way for the Bobcats with three of their seven. A great game all-around for the Panthers, which led to Rives' second career shutout and fourth career victory.

This was the first of a four-game home stand for the Panthers, with the next coming on Monday, September 26^th at 6pm against Culinary Institute of America. Bryant & Stratton travels to Mohawk Valley Community College on Thursday, September 29^th to try and rebound from today's loss.