Boxscore

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Down by a goal with less than two minutes remaining, sophomore Melissa Goncalves (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) scored two goals in 14 seconds that allowed the Manhattanville women's lacrosse team to escape with a 16-15 victory over host Farmingdale State College in a non-conference matchup on a rainy and cool Tuesday afternoon.

Goncalves came up big for the Valiants against the Rams, setting a new career high with six goals on nine shots to lead all scorers. The attacker also added two assists for a career-high eight points overall. Manhattanville also received three goals from senior Darby Webber (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) and four points (two goals, two assists) from classmate Emelda Ogweta (Portland, Maine/Kents Hill), while freshman Casandra Honovich (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) had two goals and an assist as well.

Senior goalkeeper Kirstin Betsill (Parkton, Md./Hereford) also played a big role in the Valiant victory, turning aside 14 shots to earn her third win of the season. For the game, the Valiants held a slight 32-31 edge in total shots.

The visitors got off to a great start on Tuesday, scoring the first four goals of the game to take an early lead. Goncalves got the scoring started 45 seconds in, followed by tallies from senior Jen Ascencio (Monroe, N.Y./Millbrook School), Webber and Goncalves again that put the team up by four less than nine minutes into the contest.

Farmingdale State came right back with five straight goals of its own, however, to regain the lead with 3:43 left in the half. That lead did not last long, though, as Honovich scored just 35 seconds later to tie the score and that was followed by goals from Ogweta and junior Danielle Scicutella (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) less than a minute later to give the Valiants a 7-5 edge at halftime.

The Valiant run continued to start the second half, scoring three more times to take a 10-5 lead with 23:32 left in the match. Goncalves kept the momentum going 4:50 into the second stanza, while Webber scored twice in 32 seconds soon after.

Although Farmingdale State increased its offensive pressure, Manhattanville was able to maintain a tenuous lead until the 8:33 mark, when a Carly Schneider score tied the score at 13. Junior Nicole Catapano (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) put the Valiants back up by a goal with a score at the 23:14 mark, but a pair of scores by Schneider gave the home team a 15-14 lead with 4:45 remaining.

The Rams attempted to hold off Manhattanville down the stretch, but just over three minutes later Goncalves was able to break through with the game-tying score – and then followed with the game-winner very soon after following a clutch draw control win by Ogweta.

The game was not over after that score, however, but Betsill made a big save on a free-position attempt in the final minute and Ascencio forced a game-saving turnover with 28 seconds remaining to allow the Valiants to secure the victory.

Manhattanville (4-4, 3-3 MAC) will return to Middle Atlantic Conference play on Saturday as the Valiants travel to Lycoming College for a 1 p.m. matchup. Farmingdale (4-4, 3-0 Skyline) will travel to Mount Saint Mary College on Thursday at 7 p.m.