UNION, N.J. (9/23/15) – The Kean University men's soccer team kept up its winning streak with a 3-1 victory over Purchase College on Wednesday night. The Cougars are now 8-1 on the season and have won five-straight.
Within the first 20 minutes of the match, Sev Kherlopian and Timofei Kharisov both had hit the post. The crowd groaned as Cougar shots slipped past the goal again and again.
Click here to see highlights from tonight's game!
The scoring finally began with a goal by senior Kevin Olaya at 23:21, his first of the season and first since his sophomore year. The one-timer was set up by a great cross from Vaughn Cusano. Not long after, another potential goal was called off for offside on the Cougars.
With three minutes left to go in the half, Ramsey Heitmann scored for the Panthers on a Yianni Amvrosiatos corner kick to tie the match at one.
Though the halftime score was tied, the Cougars had dominated possession, leading in shots 20-4 at the end of the first half.
Purchase started off the second half with a strong defense. Panther goalkeeper Uriel Milechberg Chirom had 12 saves on the night and worked all 90 minutes in net for the Panthers.
In the 56th minute, a Panther was awarded a red card and ejected from the game leaving Purchase (1-7) to play man down.
Seconds later, Rafal Ciepiela headed in Mateo Castro's service directly off a corner kick, making the score 2-1. Two minutes later, the Cougars struck again. Mathias Patino capped off the Cougars for the night with his first collegiate goal assisted by Ishmael Soria.
Cougar freshman goalkeeper Chidi Iloka, the reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Week, is now 5-0 on the year after making three saves in tonight's victory.
The Cougars totaled 42 shots, compared to eight by Purchase and led in corners 9-1.
The Cougars are scheduled to open up NJAC play against The College of New Jersey this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in Ewing, New Jersey.
