The ACPHS Men's Soccer Team lost their final game of the season on Wednesday, falling to the Fisher College Falcons 6-4. The Panthers, having failed to qualify for the postseason, finish their season with a 5-9 overall record and a 3-3 record in the HVIAC.
The Falcons got off the mark first in this ten-goal thriller, taking the lead just five minutes in. Midfielder Following a foul by ACPHS, Fisher midfielder Ryan McCassie curled a free kick into the box that looped over the Panther defense and his fellow midfielder Pedro Wagner who beat sophomore goalkeeper
Ryan Hobson at his near post for a 1-0 lead.
Albany came roaring back 15 minutes later, when junior forward Zach Lanoue scored two goals in just 43 seconds. Sophomore
Chuck Middleton lined up a free kick from 20 yards out that was blocked, but the rebound fell kindly to Lanoue who drilled his effort into the lower-left corner. Lanoue's fifth of the season gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead when senior
Noah Keith found freshman
Gavin Carvey in the box after ACPHS had created a turnover in the midfield. Carvey was able to get the ball back to Lanoue who converted his second shot in a row for his fifth goal of the season.
The Panthers 2-1 advantage was just about as short-lived as they come, as they allowed Falcons' forward Jonathon Collins to equalize just 17 seconds later at the 21-minute mark. Fisher netted twice more in the closing minutes of the half and took a 4-2 lead into the break.
Albany once again came from behind in early in the second half, netting in the 56
th and 58
th minutes to tie the game at 4.
Noah Keith scored the first, celebrating his senior night with a goal and an assist in his final collegiate game. Next to score was freshman
Gavin Carvey, with help from the team's other senior:
Austin Myers.
With the game tied at 4, both teams had chances to close this one out, but it was Fisher who found the winning goal through defender Steven Jagba. Fisher's Collins scored his second of the contest to finish off the scoring in the 76
th minute. In the end, the Panthers outshot their opponents 26-18, but could not muster another comeback. Hobson made five saves and will finish the season having played all 14 games for ACPHS.
Prior to the game, the Panthers said goodbye to their two graduating seniors: #4
Noah Keith and #10
Austin Myers. Keith, a Pharm D major from Rotterdam, NY, wrapped up his senior season with eight goals and six assists, an assist mark good enough for second in the HVIAC. Myers, A Pharm D major from Morrisonville, NY, scored eight and assisted on three in just 11 appearances.
The Panthers will return 9 of 11 starters next season, and will look forward to improving during the offseason.
