UPDATED: 10/31, 8:30 p.m.

PURCHASE, N.Y. – Sophomore defender Christoffer Staahl (Lulea, Sweden/Kungsfaegeln) helped keep Manhattanville's playoff hopes alive with two goals in a 3-0 victory over Wilkes University in MAC Freedom men's soccer action on Saturday afternoon on Senior Day.
 
The Valiants (9-5-4 overall, 3-1-3 MAC Freedom) kept their postseason hopes alive with the victory, but needed some help in order to make the top-four. That help came in the form of DeSales University's 1-0 (2OT) win over Misericordia University, which eliminated the Cougars from postseason contention and assured the Valiants a postseason appearance for the first time since 2012. 
 
Manhattanville did its part in keeping the season alive, coming out victorious in a must-win game against Wilkes (4-13 overall, 1-6 MAC Freedom) in their final regular-season matchup. 
 
The Valiants jumped out ahead in the first half, when sophomore Robin Schaufele (Kalix, Sweden/Kungsfaegeln) scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season, burying a low cross from junior Simon Espinosa (Boca Raton, Fla./Spanish River). They added to their lead in the 26th minute, when Staahl scored his second goal of the season, being left alone on a free kick by senior Steve Singson (Deer Park, N.Y./St. Anthony's) from just outside the penalty area.  Staahl scored his second goal of the game in the second half, burying a loose ball off of a corner inside the far post to make it a 3-0 advantage. 
 
"We played very well today, we had a lot of opportunities and probably should have scored more than we did, but overall I was very pleased with the team's performance," said head coach Gregg Miller.  "The last five or six games we have played very solidly defensively, which is very pleasing."

Manhattanville will head into the postseason carrying an impressive 549:22 shutout streak, dating back to the first half of the team's 1-1 (2OT) tie with King's (Pa.) College on October 10. Senior Willie Silber (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) made four saves on Saturday and has been in goal for 530:12 of that stretch, marking the second-longest scoreless streak by a keeper in program history.
 
Manhattanville will look to keep that shutout streak going beginning on Wednesday, when the fourth-seeded Valiants travel to top-seeded King's (Pa.) for a 7 p.m. match.  Check GoValiants.com early next week for a full postseason preview and more information on the matchup.