Box Score EDWARDSVILLE, PA ­ ­- Despite a strong defensive effort the Manhattanville College Field Hockey team fell to Wilkes University, 2-0, in MAC Freedom play on Saturday at Schmidt Stadium.

"It clearly wasn't our best effort," stated head coach Kevin Kelly. "We need to be ready to play a game the minute we step on the field. And today's game we just weren't."

The Colonles scored just before the 25 minute mark when Marissa Surdy scored off of a Maura Anistranski pass from a corner. Wilkes (5-4, 1-0 MAC Freedom) scored again off of another corner just before halftime when Haley Gayoski netted the second goal off of another Anistranski assist.

"We just didn't perform to the level we needed to perform at," added Kelly. "It's disappointing considering we have the talent and considering some of the teams we beat. But we'll take it as a learning step and we'll go back to work on Monday and try to be better prepared for the next team up."

Manhattanville (5-5, 0-1 MAC Freedom) was outshot 19 to four and the Colonles recorded 15 shots on net compared to the Valiants two.

Junior goalkeeper Meghan Hughes (Kintnersville, Pa./Palisades) picked up the loss; Hughes gave up two goals and made 11 saves while her defense also made two saves to keep the game close. Senior Breanna O'Neill (Hazlet, N.J./Mater Dei Prep) and junior Bregie Smits each recorded two shots and a shot on goal apiece.

The Valiants will have no time to mourn the loss as they will turn around and welcome the defending national champions, The College of New Jersey, to GoValiants.com Field on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

"Tuesday is going to be a tough game against the defending national champions," concluded the Valiant mentor. "It's going to be a great learning experience and important to see that kind of level of play and understand what we need to do to bring our level up to compete in our conference.