PURCHASE, N.Y. - The Manhattanville men's soccer team suffered a tough loss Friday evening, falling to the Misericordia Cougars, 3-2. In a game that saw three goals in the last twenty minutes, the Cougars took the lead in the 88th minute when Rob Wiacek headed a free kick past Manhattanville goalkeeper
Steve Singson (Deer Park, N.Y./St. Anthony's).
Both teams entered Friday's match tied for second place in the Freedom Conference standings. The winner would remain in second with the loser dropping to fourth place. There was a lot at stake and both teams played accordingly.
The first half saw 13 shots towards goal and while that number greatly favored Misericordia, 10-3, the Valiants were able to finish the first half tied 1-1. Chris Edkins gave Misericordia a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute after he tapped home a cross from fellow Cougar, Barry Kabinoff, which had managed to get by Singson.
Junior
Jamie Macchia (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) scored a cheeky backheel goal in the 29th minute after freshman
Robin Schaufele (Kalix, Sweden/Kungsfaegeln) displayed great individual effort to create space and work his way behind two Misericordia defenders. Schaufele played a low cross along the turf which Macchia had no problem finishing for his third goal of the season.
While play in the second half was frequently bogged down due to a whistle-happy referee, pace picked up feverishly for the final 20 minutes of the competition. In the 71st minute, Schaufele orchestrated another beautiful run down the right wing before slotting a ball across the turf to junior
Yani Quinteros (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd) who put his foot through the ball, sending it into the back of the net and giving the Valiants a 2-1 lead.
The Valiants barely had a chance to catch their breath before the game was tied. Just 36 seconds after Quinteros' goal, a string of crisp one-touch passing by the Cougars culminated in an impressive volley by Derek Antonini from about 20 yards out which he placed inside the far post, tying the game at two.
In the 88th minute, Wiacek put home the game-winning goal.
The Valiants had numerous chances throughout the game including a penalty kick in the 68th minute which was saved by Misericordia keeper Barry Fitzgerald.
The loss drops Manhattanville into fourth place in the Freedom Conference standings with three games remaining. The team will head to FDU-Florham on Wednesday in what has become an even more crucial game for the Valiants. Kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m.
