Boxscore

MANSFIELD, Conn. – One first-half goal was all that the home team needed as Eastern Connecticut State University, ranked 10th in this week's NSCAA/HendrickCars.com Division III National poll, sneaked past the Manhattanville women's soccer team by a 1-0 score in the Valiants' non-conference finale on Wednesday night at the Mansfield Complex.

Despite a great game by senior keeper Ali Bromson (Suffield, Conn.), the Valiants came up just a little bit short against the nationally-ranked Warriors, allowing just one goal in the 27th minute. ECSU's Kelly Wallace netted her fifth of the year at the 26:56 mark, as Daniela Marchitto crossed the ball from the endline to a streaking Wallace, who fired the ball just inside the post and past Bromson.

After being outshot, 8-1, in the first half, the Valiants upped the pressure in the second stanza, taking six shots to EastConn's eight, but could not find the back of the net. Senior Holly Nonis (Brampton, Ontario) and freshman Deborah Gilwit (New Rochelle, N.Y.) both had great chances early on in the half only to be denied by diving saves from ECSU keeper Theresa Pagnozzi. Sophomore Sonia Occhionero (Montreal, Quebec) also put an attempt on goal in the waning seconds of the contest, but Pagnozzi was there to make the save and preserve the shutout win for the home team.

Eastern Connecticut finished the evening with a 16-7 edge in shots, but Bromson kept Manhattanville close by tying her season-high with nine saves. Pagnozzi stopped all four shots she faced to pick up the victory.

Manhattanville (3-13-1) will look to sew up a spot in the Freedom Conference Tournament on Saturday, as the Valiants honor their five seniors with Senior Day festivities prior to the regular-season finale against Delaware Valley College at 4 p.m. The match will be video streamed live online at GoValiants.TV beginning around 3:50 p.m. Eastern Connecticut State (14-0-3) will take on Plymouth State University on Saturday at 1 p.m.