PURCHASE, N.Y. – Wilkes University's Micaela Oliverio scored the game-winning goal in the 103rd minute as the Lady Colonels escaped GoValiants.com Field with a 2-1 (2OT) victory over Manhattanville College in MAC Freedom women's soccer action on Saturday afternoon.
 
With Manhattanville (5-10-1, 1-5-1 MAC Freedom) playing for its seniors on Senior Day, the Valiants put together a strong effort against a good Wilkes (6-10-2, 3-3-1 MAC Freedom) side that needed the win to make the conference tournament, but the Lady Colonels posted a 20-8 edge in shots to secure the necessary win.

Wilkes got on the scoreboard first exactly 11 minutes into the match, with Emily Wirth netting her third of the year. Lauren Esser took a free kick from the near sideline that junior Dolores Diemicke (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge) punched off the crossbar, but it fell directly to Wirth for an easy put away.

The Lady Colonels nearly doubled its lead on another Esser free kick in the 24th minute, but Diemicke made a full-extension save at the near post to punch the ball out of danger.

The second half featured numerous chances for both teams, with Diemicke making numerous acrobatic stops to keep the Valiants within reach. Those big saves loomed larger when, in the 81st minute, senior Christie DeMarco (Valley Stream, N.Y./Valley Stream South) played a great ball forward to freshman Lauren Vallarelli (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck), and the forward put the ball past Kate Mahoney to knot the score. With her helper DeMarco moved into sole possession of ninth place in program history with 59 points, while also moving into a tie for 10th all-time with 11 assists.

Manhattanville seemed to receive a renewed sense of energy after Vallarelli's score, creating numerous opportunities at goal. Mahoney saved the match for the visitors with a diving stop of DeMarco in the 85th minute, but neither keeper budged and the match went to overtime.

Both keepers made great denials to keep the match tied in the first overtime, with Diemicke touching an Oliviero attempt just over bar in the 96th minute and Mahoney getting a finger on DeMarco's well-struck ball in the 98th minute and tipping it off the crossbar and back into play.
 
Oliviero's game-winner came on the first shot of the second extra session, taking a pass from Nicolette Towlen and beating Diemicke for the score. Diemicke had another excellent game in goal for the Valiants, matching her season high with 13 saves.
 
The match ends the Valiants' season and concludes the careers of Manhattanville's six seniors: DeMarco, Nicolette Diodati (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford), Christie Freer (Southington, Conn./Southington), Grace Kraemer (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa), Carolina Pelaez (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) and Dani Sullivan (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac).