Panthers Win Second Straight

Noah McPherson
Noah McPherson

Freshman Hugo Sauriat (New York City/Frank McCourt H.S.) made it two hat tricks in a row while the Tompkins Cortland Community College men's soccer team made it two wins in a row with a 4-1 win over Corning Community College Wednesday. Tompkins Cortland improves to 5-6 overall, 4-6 in Region III, and 2-1 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Corning is 3-7 overall and in region and 1-4 in the MSAC.

The first half saw each team score once, at opposite ends of the half. Corning got on the board first, taking advantage of a defensive lapse to score in the fifth minute of play. The Panthers spent most of the half with the ball in the offensive end, but it wasn't until the clock went under two minutes remaining that the home team finally found the net. Sauriat broke the ice for the Panthers, scoring the tying goal with 1:49 left in the half. Despite a late flurry in the final minute, the score remained tied at 1-1 at the break.

The deadlock was broken when the Panthers scored twice in a two-minute span midway through the second half. Marc Harris (Homer/Homer H.S.) had the first one, converting an assist from Noah McPherson (Hartford, Conn./Bulkeley) with 26:24 left on the clock. With 24:43 left, it was Sauriat capitalizing on a helper from Marton Tozser (Homer/Homer H.S.) to make it 3-1. Sauriat completed his second straight hat trick with the game's final goal with 12:30 left, scoring once again off an assist from Toszer.

The Panthers ended the game with a 23-2 advantage in shots. Jacob Beber (Fort Ann/Fort Ann H.S.) earned the win in goal with one save.

Next game for the Panthers is at home on Sunday against Finger Lakes Community College. Kick-off is at noon.