Albany, NY - The Panthers were able to score five goals against the Lynx of NHTI to get a conference win. Junior
Sahil Arora (Waterford, NY) scores four of the give goals to help the Panthers get the 5-1 win.
The Panthers came into this game with one big goal they wanted to achieve, and that was to score. That is exactly what the Panthers were able to do in this game against the Lynx. The scoring came early with a beautiful ball sent up field in the third minute by Senior
Gavin Carvey (Cato, NY) that brought the NHTI goalie out of the box.
Sahil Arora was able to get the pass, blow by the keeper and have his chance with the open net where he ended up scoring the first goal of the game. Two minutes went by, and Carvey was able to cross the ball in and found Arora again who ended up getting his second goal of the game. One more minute after that, Arora locked in his hat trick in this game in the first six minutes of gameplay. The Lynx were able to get a goal early themselves, which would only be their only goal of the game. With the defense playing lights out in the rest of the half and game in total.
The Panthers went into the half up three to one, knowing they had 45 more minutes to hold their lead. The second half came out blazing, where the game started to get really physical between two conference rivals. The Panthers did not let it get to them as they still played a great game of soccer. They were playing the short game, and sending the ball across field to hold onto a majority of the possession. With a foul just outside the box, Arora set up for the free kick, where another foul was called on NHTI in the box to set up for a penalty. Arora set up the kick, and rocketed it past the keeper for his fourth goal of the game. He joined teammate Junior
Jay Carlson (Saratoga Springs, NY) in the record books tying for second for most goals in a game. A couple minutes later, NHTI was given a penalty kick where Senior goalie
Ryan Herrick (Massena, NY) set himself up to make a stop. NHTI set up the kick and Herrick got the save guessing the right direction. Arora made another drive down the field where he found a wide open Carlson, to where Carlson was able to score the fifth goal on the day for the Panthers. With great play in an overall amazing team effort, the Panthers came out on top 5-1.
After the game, Head Coach John Adeseko was asked what he said to his guys before the game that led to this team effort. Adeseko responded by saying "Honestly, we just have to play hard, we just have to focus on the energy. Pressing the ball a little harder, and getting up the field together, sharing the ball and doing everything together. Today was a matter of things we have been working on in practice." Coach Adeseko was then asked what today meant going into two more conferences matches later this week. He responded with "It's is huge, because every time you get a win against a conference opponent it's big time...the boys are feeling good and we will go into the next game feeling good about ourselves."
The Panthers will have time to rest up and prepare for another conference game on Thursday 9/28 at home against Hampshire college.
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