The Tompkins Cortland Community College men's soccer team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back Saturday as the Panthers beat Holyoke Community College (Mass.) 3-1 to open the season. It was also the first game of the year for Holyoke.
The first score of the year took only a little more than three minutes to record. Early pressure earned the Panthers a corner kick, which Noah McPherson (Hartford, Conn./Bulkeley H.S.) used to find Hugo Sauriat (New York City/Frank McCourt H.S.) for a header and a goal. Sauriat made it 2-0 just three minutes later, this time putting in a rebound of a shot by Kemar Tyndale (Bloomfield, Conn./Plainville H.S.).
The third goal came early in the second half, with Jake Lewis (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) ripping the net to make the lead 3-0 with 34:45 left in the game. Holyoke broke through with a goal five minutes later, but the scoring ended with that tally, making the final 3-1.
Sean McDaniel (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) started and played the first half in goal, recording three saves. Jacob Beber (Fort Ann/Fort Ann H.S.) was in goal for the second half, also recording three saves.
Tompkins Cortland hosts Hudson Valley Community College Sunday at 5:30 p.m.