The College of Staten Island women's soccer team used a rigorous defensive performance, an amazing job in goal, and a clutch score, to steal away a 1-0 win over non-conference Purchase State in a game played Saturday afternoon in Purchase, NY.  CSI improved to 3-1 on the year with the win, while the Panthers evened to 2-2.

Coming off the heels of an over-powering, 9-0 loss to FDU-Florham on Wednesday, CSI needed a better defensive performance today and delivered.  The team needed it, as Purchase littered the CSI goal with a hefty 25 shots to CSI's five, but time and again CSI's defense forced bad angles while the goaltending proved true.  

Starting keeper Victoria Donegan was superb as the the starter, making a hefty seven saves in the game's first 30 minutes.  But Donegan was involved in a hard play in the box at 30:03, and the freshman was down for a while receiving medical attention before being forced to leave the game.  In stepped senior keeper Danielle McLaughlin to make four more saves over the next 59:57 to share the shutout.

Meanwhile, while the Panthers kept pressing, the Dolphins were looking for a golden opportunity to present itself, and it finally did in the 61st minute.  Here, Christina Sgarlato took advantage of a turnover and initiated a fast break down the pitch.  She crossed the ball into the box and found freshman Demi-Jean Martorano.  The freshman CUNYAC Rookie of the Week then blasted her fifth goal of the year and her second game-winner, giving CSI the 1-0 edge.

The score would hold up, erasing a bad memory of Wednesday's loss.  Although not immediately known, Donegan did not return to the field for the Dolphins and her status is listed as day-to-day.

"This was a very gutsy performance," said CSI head coach John Guagliardo, "We needed everyone to step up and they (Purchase) were relentless.  Our defense did a tremendous job of keeping them off the scoreboard."

CSI will next return to action on Tuesday, September 21, when they host John Jay College for their first CUNYAC match of the season.  Game time is set for 3:30pm.