ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – Senior Rob Hammerle (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) scored his first goal in nearly two years to give Manhattanville a 2-1 win over defending MAC Freedom Champion Eastern University in their conference opener Saturday afternoon.
 
The Valiants used a second half comeback that featured goals from junior Robin Schaufele (Kalix, Sweden/Kungsfaegeln) and Hammerle to give the Valiants their first conference win of the season.  Manhattanville (8-3 overall, 1-0 MAC Freedom) outshot the Eagles 9-7 on the afternoon despite trailing 9-0 in corner kicks. 
 
Freshman Tim Carsting (Falun, Sweden/Soltorgsgymnasiet) needed just two saves to earn his sixth win of the season.  Schaufele was an offensive threat all day for Manhattanville, recording five shots on the day and adding his fifth goal of the season to level the score at 1-1 after Eastern took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.  Hammerle scored the game-winner in the 67th minute, his first goal since October 24, 2014 against Wilkes University, to help the Valiants extend their winning streak to five games. 
 
The Valiants will have another tough task ahead of them on Wednesday when they host Montclair State, the top team receiving votes in last week's D3Soccer.com National Poll.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm at GoValaints.com Field.