POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Manhattanville Field Hockey team was unable to take advantage of some stellar defense as the Valiants (0-2) fell 1-0 to William Paterson (1-1) on Friday night in the Betty Richey Invitational at Vassar College.

"I'm really proud of this team," commented Manhattanville head coach Kevin Kelly. "They've come 180 degrees from where they were the first game. This was a good game and we had opportunities. From where we are now compared to where we were a couple of days ago and where I think we are eventually going to go, I'm really pleased with the progress I've seen."

Despite giving up 13 shots and eight shots on goal, the Valiant defense was able to keep the game close thanks in large part to the play of junior goalkeeper Meghan Hughes (Kintnersville, Pa./Palisades) and the corner defense.

Hughes faced 13 shots and made five saves while the corner defense stopped the 10 of the 11 Pioneer corners.

"The defensive corner team was great," stated Kelly. "All we have to do now is put all of the components together on the same day."

The lone goal came at the 28:21 mark when William Paterson senior midfielder McKenna Reynolds scored off a rebound to put the Pioneers ahead. Reynolds' goal would prove to be enough as William Paterson held on for the win and set up a championship matchup with the host team Vassar College, who beat Smith College 3-0 earlier on Friday.

Offensively for Manhattanville, the Valiants accumulated seven shots and two shots on goal. Senior Breanna O'Neill (Hazlet, N.J./Mater Dei Prep), junior Amanda Cirocco (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) and freshman Nicole Fanelle (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township) all recorded two shots. While O'Neill and fellow senior Rylee McGuire (Grantham, N.H./Lebanon) each accounted for a shot on goal.

The Valiants will be back in action on Saturday as they take on Smith College (0-1) in the consolation game of the Betty Richey Invitational at 1 p.m.

"We need to put the three elements together," concluded the field hockey mentor. "We need to get the defense, midfield and attack on the same page. The defense is doing their job and the midfield did a good job tonight. Now it's up for the attack to finish the play."