Albany, N.Y. - The ACPHS men's soccer team improved to (6-3-1) after tying against Paul Smith's College (6-2-2), 0-0, Saturday afternoon at ACPHS Field.

Today's match was played on senior night, which honored ACPHS seniors for contributing to their respective teams. Members from the men's soccer team were joined on the field by close family, where they got to share a special moment with Coach John Adeseko and reminisce about all the times when they left it all out there. ACPHS not only thanks this group of seniors for their contributions to the men's team but also wishes them all the best in the next chapter of their lives.

Both groups remained scoreless after 45 minutes of play. Although outshooting the Bobcats 5-4, the Panthers were unable to find a clean shot to put up their first points of the day. It was evident that this defensively oriented game was starting to annoy both teams; Ben Green and ACPHS's Anes Bostandzic (Utica, N.Y.) both picked up yellow cards after participating in verbal exchanges with the referees. Paul Smith's College seemed to have the breakaway score with under a minute to go – however, a late kick- save from Goalie Ryan Herrick (Massena, N.Y.) sent both teams to the locker room at 0-0.

Out of the break, it was much of the same story as the first half. Although, late in the period, sophomore Jay Carlson (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) looked to put the game in his own hands, picking up the intensity on defense and being aggressive on offense, almost scoring with 18 minutes left to play. However, it was Midfielder Gavin Carvey (Cato, N.Y.) who, in the 81st minute, fired a boot from 20 feet away, sinking the ball into the left corner of the net – sealing the victory for ACPHS. That goal made it three for Cato, and it couldn't have been delivered at a more crucial moment – with the playoffs approaching, the Panthers need every win they can get to ensure seeding is in their favor.

For many players like Bostandzic, it was their last time playing in front of fans at ACPHS Field. "Chuck and I really try our best to breed the next generation of captains and seniors. We try to stress the message of what it means to be a captain, whether that means picking your teammates up when you're losing, keeping someone motivated when they are tired, it is the little things that make a difference," he said.

When asked how it feels to have played his final home game, Bostandizic responded: "Honestly, it hasn't hit me yet, but as soon as I get back to my dorm, I know I'm going to get a little bit emotional. We have a whole nice week of practice coming up; I am going to make sure to enjoy it – especially at a great facility like ACPHS, one of the best in the area."

"We fought hard today. That was a big win. Those guys are super scrappy and very good at what they do. Coming into today's game, we had to make sure we played our best. That means not holding the ball but instead moving it around and finding open gaps. I am very happy for Gavin; he has been looking for that goal all year, and that was a great shot. Overall, we are just thrilled because we need this – you never want to lose an important conference game late in the season," said Coach John Adeseko after the win.

The Panthers will look to continue their winning ways Saturday, Oct. 15, when they travel to take on YSCC rival New Hampshire Technical Institute.

How to follow the Panthers: For the latest information on ACPHS athletics, visit acphspanthers.com or check out the ACPHS athletics social media platforms on Instagram @ACPHSPanthers or Twitter @ACPHSAthletics.

This story was contributed by Nikolas Gheiler