The 2017 women's soccer season got off to a solid start for Tompkins Cortland Community College Friday as the Panthers posted a 4-1 win over Division I Mercyhurst North East. It was also the season-opener for the Saints.
The Panthers missed out on some chances in the opening minutes, and Mercyhurst North East took advantage by scoring the first goal in the 13th minute of play. The home team answered in the 18th minute, with Sage Garrison (Odessa-Montour H.S./Odessa) knocking in a pass from her former high-school teammate April Dunn (Odessa-Montour H.S./Alpine). The 1-1 tie held until Tompkins Cortland took the lead and then put the game away early in the second half.
The game-winning goal came in the seventh minute of the second half. Emily Potter (Candor H.S./Candor) found the net on a free kick from 35 yards, floating it in just over the keepers head. Just over minute later, Briana Sokol (Newark Valley H.S./Newark Valley) got in on the act with a goal to make it 3-1, and then 47 seconds later Sokol played a perfect corner kick into the box where Kristin Frear (Lansing H.S./Ithaca) put it in for the third score in less than two minutes. The flurry made the lead 4-1, and marked the end of scoring for either team.
Kassie Murdock (Stillwater H.S./Stillwater) played the first half in goal before giving way to Katie Slocum (Candor H.S./Candor) in the second half. Each keeper made two saves.
The Panthers open Mid-State Athletic Conference play Wednesday at Jefferson Community College.