ACPHS Men's Soccer celebrated their 2018 senior day with a win on Sunday, besting the Culinary Institute of America Steels 6-0. Unfortunately, the result was not enough to qualify the Panthers for the 2018 HVIAC Men's Soccer Tournament, as they finished the conference regular season at 3-3. The record placed the Panthers in a tie for fourth place with the College of New Rochelle, but the Blue Angels held the head-to-head tiebreaker, which means they will move on as the #4 seed. Barring an at-large bid from the USCAA, Albany will finish the year with an overall record of 7-8, going 5-4 at home but just 2-4 on the road.

Sunday started out bright, with a short ceremony prior to kickoff celebrating the Panthers' two seniors: utility man Reid Laplante (Pharmacy PhD / Chateaugay, NY / Chateaugay Central High School) and starting center back Bryce Berchulski (Pharmacy PhD / Somersworth, NH / Somersworth High School). Both players started the majority of games this year, with each taking part in three USCAA National Tournaments and playing integral roles in last year's HVIAC Championship Team. Both players finished their collegiate careers on a high note, with LaPlante recording a goal and an assist and Berchulski adding assist on the Panthers' fourth goal.

As for the game, Albany started fast and never let up, running Culinary ragged up and down the pitch. The scoring got started in the 14^th minute, when the Panthers' two main attacking threats all year, juniors Noah Keith (Rotterdam, NY / CBA) and Austin Myers (Morrisonville, NY / Saranac High), hooked up on Keith's team-leading 10^th goal of the season. Those ten goals were good enough for fifth in the HVIAC, while Myers' seven assists put him in a tie for second place with three others.

Freshman Josh Barlow (Clifton Park, NY /Shenendehowa, NY) scored the Panthers second goal in the 18^th minute off of assists from LaPlante and Keith, giving him two goals in the season's final two games. LaPlante added his goal in the 36^th minute, giving the Panthers a 3-0 halftime lead.

ACPHS doubled their output in the second half, with three more goals coming from freshman Chuck Middleton (Cicero, NY / Cicero-North Syracuse High School), Myers, and freshman Jason Haas (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa), whose 72^nd-minute goal was the first of his collegiate career. The Panthers outshot the Steels 23-6, putting 15 of their 23 shots on frame. Freshman goalkeeper Ryan Hobson (Red Hook, NY / Red Hook High School) made three saves in the win, improving his season record to 6-5.

The Panthers will return a solid crop of freshman next year, with Myers and Keith leading the team for their senior seasons. We congratulate our 2018 Men's Soccer Team on another fun season and look forward to another great year of Panther Soccer in 2019!