Senior superstars Erin Tersegno (Webster, NY / Webster Thomas) and Katie Benson (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa) grabbed two goals apiece on Thursday night, leading the ACPHS Panthers to a 5-2 win over the SUNY Polytech Wildcats, their first win of the year. Albany improved to 1-2-0 after three games, while the Wildcats fell to 0-2-1.

SUNY Poly got the scoring started after sophomore forward Adriana Marcolin showed off her technique to release a pass that put fellow forward Nakeya Stedman in behind the ACPHS defense. Stedman took one touch and put a right-footed shot past sophomore keeper Gabriella Evangelista (Warwick, NY / Warwick Valley High) to give the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead.

The Panthers began to apply the pressure thereafter, grabbing a goal of their own to tie the score at one in the 27^th minute. Following a SUNY Poly corner, freshman Cory Parker (Albany, NY / Guilderland High School) sent a long clearance down that field that was run down by Benson. The Shenendehowa grad sprinted past two lines of Warrior defense and rounded Polytech keeper Alysia Thomas to slide a left-footed shot into the empty net that knotted the score at one.

Tersegno grabbed Albany's second goal just 12 minutes later, when Benson used her speed to get to the byline and square a pass to her line mate who still had plenty to do at the top of the six-yard box. The ACHPS striker beat the last SUNY Poly defender with a tight turn, and curled her effort into the top corner for her first goal of the year.

The Panthers took a 2-1 advantage into the break, but put the game out of reach with a pair of tack on goals in the 49^th and 51^st minutes, the first of which being the best of the night. Junior Sydney Rule (Ballston Spa, NY / Ballston Spa) set up Benson from 25 yards out, and her effort did not disappoint, as it rifled into the top corner to extend her scoring streak to three games and the ACPHS lead to two. Fellow senior Molly Mancini (Galway, NY / Galway) joined the scoring party off of a nice pass from Tersegno just two minutes later, and the Panthers never looked back.

Tersegno netted her second goal in the 68^th minute with assists from both Benson and Mancini, rounding out the Panthers' scoring for the night. SUNY Poly's Nakeya Stedman, who made things difficult for the Albany defense all night, scored again with ten minutes left, but by then the result was decided. ACPHS outshot their opponents 35-9, putting 18 of those efforts on target. Evangelista made four saves on the night and played all 90 minutes.

Albany will continue their stretch of NCAA opponents on Sunday, September 16^th when they travel to Union College. Kickoff is slated for 2pm, with live stats available at the Union Athletics website.