ALBANY, NY – Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences women's soccer team won its first match of the season 4-1 against the Sage Colleges.

Panthers forwards Sarah Cope and Frances Ripepi each registered two goals to lead ACPHS to victory.

Cope gave her team the lead early in the first half. At the 1:10-minute mark, Cope stole the ball from a defender and blasted a shot to the top right corner of the net.

The Gators responded quickly when Nicole Maher headed the ball off a free kick cross from Alexandra Robert to tie the game at the 4:50-minute mark.

The half ended in a 1-1 tie with both teams registering two shots on net.

The Panther offense came alive in the second half as Cope added her second goal at the 51:25-minute mark. She took the ball from 25 yards out and dribbled past multiple defenders and the Gators goalkeeper and buried the tap-in goal.

Ripepi wouldn't be outdone when she blasted a shot from 30-yards out to the top right corner of the net.  She gave the Panthers their 3-1 lead at the 60:47-minute mark.

Ripepi tallied the final goal of the game when she picked up a loose ball in a front-of-the-net scramble and buried it past the downed goalkeeper. The score would stay at 4-1 after Ripepi's 67:15-minute mark goal.

ACPHS finished the game with 19 shots attempted forcing Gators goalkeeper Teagan Waddingham to make 5 saves. Panthers goaltender Amy Jagareski made 4 saves in the game.

The Panthers are back in action this weekend at home for the Panther Invitational tournament. Their first match is on Saturday at 10:45 pm against King's College.