Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville women's lacrosse team hung with conference frontrunner FDU-Florham for a majority of the game, but a 5-0 run late in the first half put the Devils ahead and they never relinquished that lead in dealing the Valiants an 18-13 loss in Freedom Conference action on a windy Tuesday afternoon at GoValiants.com Field.
 
Junior Melissa Goncalves (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) registered a team-leading six points for Manhattanville, scoring twice and assisting on four. Sophomore Casandra Honovich (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) and junior Maggie Howley (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal Dougherty) both scored four times, with Howley adding an assist for a five-point day, while freshman Ashley Hess (Mountain Top, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) also performed well with two goals and two assists.
 
Courtney Rendinaro had a good game for FDU-Florham, leading all players with eight points on three goals and five assists. Breana Kilpatrick scored all of her five goals in the first half and, despite being stymied by the Valiant defense in the second half, still led all scorers while also picking up a game-high eight ground balls. Katie Rolwood added three goals and three assists as well for the visitors.
 
The Valiants struck first just 10 seconds into the game after Hess controlled the draw and then found Goncalves streaking to the net for the score. But after that, both teams slowed down the pace considerably, with the sides taking multiple minutes at times to set up their possessions.
 
That strategy worked very well for Manhattanville to start out, as the possession game resulted in a pair of goals from Honovich and Goncalves. And at the other end, junior Emy Cote (Saint-Hubert, Quebec/Dawson College) made three saves on four attempts to help the home team to a 3-1 lead with 13:23 to go in the half.
 
But FDU-Florham closed the half with a flourish, as Kilpatrick scored four times during a 5-0 run to end the frame that put the visitors ahead by a 6-3 score at the break.
 
The two teams traded goals to start the second half, as two Howley free-position scores were matched by goals from Nicole Peotter and Ally Lerner. The Lerner score started a 5-1 for the Devils that opened up their lead to six at 12-6 with 21:08 to go, but Manhattanville made another run to get back within four, as Hess, Howley and sophomore Brooke Marcimo (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) all found the net.
 
The home team could get no closer than four the rest of the way, however, as the team could not take advantage of its chances down the stretch.
 
The Devils finished the game with a 44-21 edge in total shots, while the Valiants were also hurt by 21 turnovers compared to just seven for FDU.
 
Cote had a solid game in goal for Manhattanville in a losing effort, making 12 saves. The FDU tandem of Patricia Samms and Grace Warburton did not make a save all game long, as Samms earned the win despite giving up nine goals on nine shots.
 
Manhattanville (3-11, 2-3 Freedom) will close out its non-conference schedule on Thursday night, as the Valiants host IWLCA #5 College of New Jersey under the lights of GoValiants.com Field beginning at 7 p.m. FDU-Florham (10-6, 5-0 Freedom) will wrap up the regular season on Saturday at home against King's (Pa.) starting at 11 a.m.