Purchase and Maritime College Battle It Out In A Scoreless Standoff

By Lena Flamm

Maritime defenseman Christopher Laino argues with Purchase forward Oliver Broun over ball possession. (Photo by Marin Tyree)

As the sun set over the bleachers of the Purchase soccer field, a crowd of almost 100 gathered to watch the 4 and 6 Purchase Panthers take on the 5 and 2 Maritime Privateers. But no one was prepared for the nail-biting stalemate that the next two hours had in store, one that would push both teams' mental and physical capacities to their limits.

When the first five minutes passed without a strong attempt on goal from either side, the energy had already grown fierce, and no player was more fervent than the Panthers' goalie Luca Valeriano. The 6'5 "freshman was an intimidating presence and could be heard goading his teammates on the field throughout the first half, shouting things like, "That's got to be better!" to his defense when a gap allowed Maritime forwards to run the ball towards Purchase's net. 

As the half went on, Valeriano and Privateers goalie Augusto Lebron were at the top of their game, stopping multiple attempts on goal from both teams. "You're just always throwing that play out the window, and it's always about the next," said freshman midfielder Christos Argyros on remaining unshakeable, but some were not as forgiving.

For many players, the string of fouls combined with the lack of scoring caused frustration to become more potent, meaning fights for control over the ball were more aggressive. The game was incredibly contact-heavy, with players knocking each other over, chasing each other into corners, and breaking out into arguments over possession on every side of the field. When the whistle was blown over a charging foul, a man in the bleachers yelled "Too soft!" to the referee, and it seemed the audience was even beginning to grow frustrated. Privateer and Panther defensemen PJ Kakalos and Aylwyn Ganzhi-Siguencia squared off for particularly long, neither one wanting to relent. However, the lack of composure seemed to be affecting the level of accuracy when making plays for the net, as many shots soared high above the goalposts, causing groans from fans of both teams on the bleachers.

The Purchase Panthers devising a game plan. (Photo by Marin Tyree)

At halftime, the name of the game was regaining focus. As the teams huddled together before the horn sounded to commence the second half, you could see a new fiery energy among the players. But at every step of the way, it seemed the teams' wits and physical drive remained equal. Although Panthers forwards Oliver Broun and Parker Lewis were incredibly fast and created numerous opportunities for shots on goal, they consistently missed the mark. As the second half progressed, it was clear that if either team were to win, something fundamental would have to change.

As the final whistle blew with nothing to separate the two sides, the heads that hung heaviest were those of Maritime. Head coach Dan Cinelli gave a heated speech on the sidelines, encouraging the players to learn from their mistakes. "We played away from our usual system," said assistant coach Wilson "Willy" Cartagena, "and I think there was too much desperation on the part of our players, they didn't follow our system or our way of playing, which is composure and patience with the ball. They (Panthers) brought the pressure and were able to keep us away from their net, and we also wasted opportunities that we had."

On the other side of the field, the Panthers, though understanding of their mistakes, were proud of their performance. "Tonight, I feel like our defense really kept us in the game," said Christos Argyros, "and I thought our midfield moved the ball well in the first half. I think that really helped us keep a clean sheet today." Panthers head coach Bruno Ferreira was disappointed that the Panthers couldn't clinch the win but recognized the effort that they had exhibited on the field. "When we were possessing the ball back and forth, I thought that was very good; unfortunately, in the final third, we couldn't put it away." When asked about his team's many failed shots on goal, he had blunt advice for any player in the situation: "Hopefully he corrects it and never makes the same mistake again."

The Maritime Pioneers exit the field after a devastating tie. (Photo by Marin Tyree)

For Maritime, the game was a fierce reminder to never take a win for granted. For Purchase, it meant greatness wasn't out of reach in their near future, if the team had the hard work, dedication, and fighting spirit to claim it.