Boxscore

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Sophomore Alex Pomato (Niskayuna, N.Y.) finished with her first multi-goal game of her collegiate career, scoring twice to propel the Manhattanville field hockey team to its first victory of the season against Elms College, 8-0, in the consolation game at the Betty Richey Tournament at Vassar College on Sunday morning.

Along with Pomato's two-goal performance, four other Valiants hit the back of the cage, as classmate Kayla Meenan (Warminster, Pa.) and freshman Megan Greene (North Kingstown, R.I.) added a pair of goals in the onslaught victory. Senior Jen Ascencio (Monroe, N.Y.) and junior Alyssa Coughlan (Rye, N.Y.) scored insurance tallies to give the team a total of 37 shots (22 on target). Junior Colleen Macedo (Norwalk, Conn.) had a great game on defense, moving up in the rush to assist on two goals. Additional assists were credited to Coughlan and Meenan, as the team scored more than one goal for the first time this season.

Pomato got her first goal of the contest in the 9th minute, receiving a crisp pass from Macedo in front of the cage to take the early 1-0 lead. The Valiants wasted little time before scoring their second tally two minutes later, as Pomato once again hung out in front of the cage for her second goal of the day and third of the season. 

The upperclassmen duo of Coughlan and Ascencio were responsible for the third and fourth goals for the Valiants, as in the 18th minute Ascencio's one-timer from Coughlan beat Blazers' netminder Alexandra Bonavita. Two minutes later, Coughlan scored her second goal of the season as the Valiants jumped out to a 4-0 lead just 21 minutes into play.

Manhattanville owned the first half with a 16-1 edge in shots, with the only shot from the designated road team wide of the net.

Manhattanville capitalized once again in the second half scoring four more times beginning with a rebound goal by Meenan three minutes in. She added her second goal a bit later in the half with Macedo getting credited with the helper off a rebound. 

With the Valiants leading 6-0, Greene put the game away with her first two collegiate goals in a span of 1:59. The former Junior Olympian crashed the net with her second goal coming off a pass from Meenan.

With the majority of the contest in the offensive zone for Manhattanville, freshman netminder Amy Hilton (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was not asked to make a save but was rewarded with her first career victory and shutout. Bonavita was dealt her second defeat of the season but was put to the test and finished with 14 saves on 22 shots. Manhattanville also had a 7-2 advantage in penalty corners, which lead to the first goal of the contest. 

At the conclusion of the tournament, Pomato and Meenan were named to the Betty Richey All-Tournament team. Pomato finished the weekend with three goals for six points. Meenan also finished the weekend with six points (two goals and two assists).

Manhattanville (1-3) will have a week off before heading to the William Smith Tournament next weekend and will face the host Herons on Saturday at 2 p.m. Elms (0-2) will host Smith College on Wednesday at 7 p.m. 

Betty Richey All-Tournament Team

Elms - Andrea Ramsdell, Alexandra Bonavita

Manhattanville - Alex Pomato (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna), Kayla Meenan (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent)

Smith - Phoebe Hopkins, Nomindari Goulden, Alexandra Stein

Vassar - Jessica Lance, Rebecca Smith, Madeline Rooney, Anna Schroder